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Harmonizing protection and development of the Alps

28.11.2014

The Italian State Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea, Barbara Degani, presided over the XIII. Alpine Conference where ministers and high representatives from Alpine Countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland) the European Union as well as representatives from Observer organizations discussed issues for the development of the Alps and the protection of the Alpine Environment on 21 November 2014 in Turin, Italy. The main issues addressed were:

Climate Change and Energy: Under the guidance of the Italian Presidency Guidelines for the Adaptation to Climate Change on an Alpine local level have been elaborated. Additionally the Alpine and Carpathian Convention adopted a Joint statement addressing Climate Change to be presented at the World Climate Conference (UNFCCC COP20) in December 2014 in Lima, Peru. The Alpine Conference also reinforced the vision of “Renewable Alps” and called for concrete actions.

Demography and Employment in the Alps: The new Report on the State of the Alps shows that the Alpine population has increased slightly. The increase concentrates on areas that are easily accessible, while population in more remote areas tends to decrease. In the areas where the population is increasing, this is not only due to the natural population growth, since migration is playing a more and more relevant role. The ‘new highlanders’ tend to concentrate in areas that are easily accessible and at commuting distances from the main urban alpine centres; their presence on the territory can help re-boosting local economy, revitalizing traditions and culture and promoting local craftsmanship. The next Report on the State of the Alps will concentrate on green economy and will be published by the end of 2016.

EU Macro-regional strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP): EUSALP is in the process of elaboration and is bound to become operational in summer 2015. Currently the Alpine Convention has observers’ status in the process and actively contributes to its work. The Alpine Conference adopted a statement on EUSALP stating its conviction that the Alpine Convention shall continue its significant role in the elaboration and implementation of the strategy in all its pillars and expressed its readiness in particular to play a leading role in the third pillar concerning sustainable use of energy and natural resources. The Conference also stressed the requirement of balancing protection and economic development and the need for activities to be mutually beneficial for mountain and surrounding areas.

EXPO2015: The Alpine Conference decided to contribute to Expo2015 with a “Mountain week” that will be organized between 4 and 11 June with the aim to promote mountains and their products and traditions in the national pavilions of the Alpine Countries.

Compliance Committee: The Compliance Committee is the body that verifies Compliance with commitments and obligations resulting from the Alpine Convention. One of the topics dealt with by the Compliance Committee in the past two years was the project of a cable car on Piz val Gronda (Tirol, Austria) and its compliance with article 6/3 of the Tourism Protocol.

International cooperation: The Alpine Convention is also part of the wider international community and it works in close cooperation with the Carpathian Convention on many issues, such as Climate Change where the Joint Statement was prepared. Furthermore, the Alpine Convention’s close ties with other mountain ranges, were reflected through participation of representatives from the Andes (Argentina, Chile and Bolivia).

After Italy, Germany will assume the Presidency of the Alpine Convention for the period 2015-2016. The main focus of the German Programme will be on the topics of Green Economy, Biodiversity, Sustainable Tourism as well as Climate Change, Transport and Mobility and EUSALP.

Statement from the Secretary General of the Alpine Convention: The Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, Markus Reiterer, was content with the outcomes of the Conference and thanked the Italian Presidency, a particularly the active presidency, for excellent cooperation. “The Alpine Conference highlighted the need for cooperation on all levels to address the challenges in the Alpine Region; such as the challenges of Climate and Demographic Change, but also to make the best possible use of our potentials such as green economy, sustainable tourism, etc. I am convinced that fruitful cooperation will continue under the future German Presidency.”

What is the Alpine Convention?

The Alpine Convention is an international treaty among the Alpine countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland) as well as the EU, aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Alpine area. The Alpine Convention strives to harmonize protection and economic development with the objective to sustain the Alps as a living space for people and nature as well as economic area.

The Alps, with their biodiversity, water and wood reserves, are the natural, cultural, living and economic environment for 14 million people and an attractive tourist destination for more than 120 million guests every year.

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