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Setting an example for climate protection: at Brambrüesch near Chur/CH and throughout the Alps. (c) Mana Kieliger

Climate change is increasingly affecting the Alps. The heatwaves this summer and the persistent drought show just how serious the consequences are. In many regions, a ban on fires was in force. Despite the decision not to light the traditional bonfires, people met throughout the Alpine region to campaign for climate protection.

On Chur’s local mountain, the Brambrüesch/CH, the Alpine Initiative together with CIPRA International invited people to a rally and a hike. Under the working title «Simplon Alliance», the Alpine countries have announced an action plan for October for climate-friendly Alpine transport. «We demand a climate action plan that delivers what it promises, and we expect more from it than just hot air. The lorries are already blowing enough of that into the Alpine valleys», says Django Betschart, Executive Director of the Alpine Initiative. In addition, the Alpine Convention must counteract the misguided development of the Eurovignette, which among other things favours lorries with alternative drive systems over freight transport by rail. This distorts competition to the detriment of the Alpine populations, because three alternatively powered lorries demonstrably damage the environment just as much as two diesel lorries.

In Slovenia, flashlights burned as a substitute for fires. Mountains are fragile ecosystems and outside influences must be kept to a minimum. There is a lot of catching up to do, especially in terms of wastewater management, as the excursion organised by CIPRA Slovenia showed. It led to the mountain lake known as the Dvojno jezero in the Triglav region/SI. With its annual algae bloom, this lake shows what happens when the ecosystem is disturbed by nutrients contained in wastewater. The problem has been known for years, but nothing has been done about it until now. With this event, during which algae were also collected, the participants once again drew attention to this deplorable state of affairs.

More information on the «Fire in the Alps» events 2022: http://feuerindenalpen.com/ (de)