Strong together: How towns and municipalities are driving forward climate protection

The ‘Climate & Municipalities’ webinar on 13 January 2025 provided an overview of innovative approaches and proven measures in the field of climate action, specifically tailored to the challenges and potential of Alpine towns and municipalities. Contributions from various regions and sectors showed how local and regional actors can actively contribute to combating the climate crisis. They also emphasised the importance of cooperation and personal initiative for sustainable success in climate protection.

Climate targets and overarching strategies

The Alpine Climate Board (ACB), founded in 2016, is committed to implementing the Alpine Climate Target System 2050. Katharina Zwettler from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and head of the ACB presented the Climate Action Plan 2.0 and its 30 practice-oriented implementation paths. She emphasised the support of local initiatives and practical projects, for example in Grenoble/FR, where pop-up cycle paths introduced during the pandemic were integrated into the cycle path network. Or in Tyrol, where low-income households receive expert support in reducing their energy consumption.

Lifestyle and education

Calculating their own CO2 footprint, workshops on energy efficiency, flower distribution campaigns and an ‘auqalendarium’: pupils from the Herz-Jesu-Institut in Mühlbach/IT took action at the KlimaSchule Südtirol. Elfi Troi and Elisabeth Moser talked about their commitment and the fruitful collaboration between the school and the town of Bruneck.
Across the border to Austria, in southern Carinthia, young people are also involved. Peter Plaimer from the KLAR! Region sheds light on the so-called ‘climate camps’, which playfully get children interested in topics such as climate change, agriculture and environmental protection.
Motivating people to become active themselves is also successful in the DIY project ‘Simply do it’. Janin Salzger from project partner CIPRA International Lab gave an insight into the workshops taking place – from the construction of balcony power plants and sustainable insulation of storey ceilings to fermentation courses and bike repair workshops. Small-scale projects and online tools also help communities to reduce CO₂ emissions and use resources efficiently.

Governance and networks

Dominik Bertram from the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg showed that Alpine towns connect urban and rural regions and how they play a key role in climate protection. The InTerAlp project emphasises the importance of governance for interface regions.
The ‘Vulnerability Map’ of the Beyond Snow project shows the vulnerability of Alpine regions to climate change. Agnese Moroni from EURAC explained indicators such as snow cover, outdoor tourism and age structures that can support planning and thus help to make regions more resilient.

Regional and intermunicipal approaches

In Grand Chambéry/FR, citizen participation is a top priority, as Marie Favreau proved. The citizens’ climate club, consisting of around 40 people who rotate every year, works with the local population to implement measures such as promoting cycling, planting campaigns, sharing initiatives and environmental protection projects. The town provides support with the budget, moderation and logistics. Various events, such as the ApéroWatt, which provides information about your own electricity bill, or the ‘Balade Thermique’, a walk on the subject of energy guzzlers, complement the diverse projects.
Cooperation is also very important in Sion/CH: seven municipalities are working together on the key topics of spatial planning, biodiversity, water, energy and the economy for the inter-municipal climate plan. Laurence Vuagnieux from the Fondation pour le développement durable des regions de montagne explained in her input that the aim is a forward-looking climate policy that fulfils regional requirements.
There are also exemplary municipalities in Austria, such as Mäder, which has been a pioneer in environmental protection for many years. Daniel Schuster and Martin Stark reported on current measures, such as the expansion of photovoltaic capacities and the political decision to become a solar energy municipality by 2030. Citizens can invest in solar shares, for example, and the annual output is either paid out or can be sold at the ‘Sun Festival’.

Utilising resistance

The webinar made it clear that climate protection is a cross-sectional task that requires close cooperation between municipalities, citizens and regional networks. In the final interview, Madeleine Rohrer, former Merano town councillor and now a member of the South Tyrolean parliament, explained that working groups and the approach of utilising resistance can promote pragmatic solutions. Resistance usually comes from people who are concerned and want to care – this can be used positively. Ms Rohrer emphasised that citizen participation and bold, new approaches are key to achieving climate neutrality and resilience in the Alps.

 

With a series of webinars on the implementation of the Alpine Conference’s multi-year work programme, the ‘Alliance in the Alps’ network of municipalities and the ‘Alpine Town of the Year’ association are offering a platform for municipalities that want to move from thinking to action. The focus is on the local perspective on biodiversity, climate action and quality of life. This initiative for municipalities and towns in the Alpine region is a follow-up to AlpWeek 2024 in Nova Gorica/SI under the motto ‘Alps in our hands’ and is financially supported by the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention.

Further dates:

17.03.2025: Life Quality & Municipalities
08.05.2025: Tourism & Municipalities

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Links to further information shared in the webinar:

Presentations for download