ARGE ALP chair in Switzerland: ARGE ALP conference in Innsbruck
The conference of the heads of government of the Alpine Alliance ARGE-ALP took place in Innsbruck’s Hofburg. The acting ARGE ALP chairman LH Günther Platter welcomed his counterparts from the Alpine countries.
TYROL. “The past 50 years in ARGE ALP have been characterized by closer, collegial and friendly cooperation that creates lasting value for the member countries. Our primary goal is to successfully enforce coordinated common interests in our countries and Europe,” explained LH Günther Platter
The change is having a greater impact on the Alpine region
The focus of the Tyrolean ARGE ALP presidency was on the topic of climate protection, since climate change is having a particularly strong impact on the Alpine region. “The consequences of climate change are already clearly noticeable in the Alps. In order to continue to ensure the sustainable development of the Alpine region despite climate change, there is a need for increased cross-border cooperation, especially in the small-structured border regions,” explained LH Platter. Particular attention is paid to the energy transition:
“Renewable energies form the backbone of future energy supply in the Alpine region. The further expansion of renewable energies is a central element of energy policy, as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and also differentiates the dependency on fossil energy imports.”
In addition, local public transport is to be strengthened and networked across national borders, and freight transport by rail is to be further promoted as an alternative to the road.
Regulation of the wolf population in the Alpine region
Another focus during the Tyrolean presidency was the issue of large carnivores in order to protect alpine mountain agriculture. To this end, they want to improve transnational monitoring, especially with regard to wolves. Data and DNA samples are to be exchanged and compared, genetic testing methods in the Alpine region harmonized and finally a common database set up. The aim is the transnational assessment of the conservation status and the reduction of the protection status. The ARGE ALP countries also promote measures for herd protection.
“The management of mountain farms and pastures is not just a cultural and traditional part of our society. It is also of enormous importance for small-scale alpine agriculture, biodiversity and the landscape. Ultimately, it is also a tourist and therefore also an economic factor in rural areas,” LH Platter is convinced.
Presentation of the ARGE ALP climate protection prize
This year’s ARGE ALP award is all about climate protection and was awarded in the three categories “Grassroots”, Startup and Major Project. From a total of 71 submissions, in addition to the two initiatives “Forumtheater: Decisions with vision” from Tyrol and BODAimportant from Vorarlberg in the Grassroots category, the startup e-cyclus from Graubünden and the two major projects EMMI Mobil from Bavaria and myclimate Klimafonds Davos from Graubünden were convincing. A total of 34,000 euros in prize money was awarded. “We warmly congratulate the winners. Your submissions testify to the range of ways in which climate and environmental protection can be promoted on a small and large scale – be it in raising awareness, mobility, tourism or waste management. really affects all areas of our lives climate protection,” said LH Platter.
St. Gallen runs the ARGE ALP-Vorsitz von Tirol
After Tyrol held the presidency of the Arge Alp for a year, the Swiss canton of St. Gallen will take the chair in 2023. Councilor Marc Mächler said: “We are pleased to be able to tie in with the initiatives of the state of Tyrol by taking over the presidency. The focus of the St. Gallen presidency year will be on the area of ’sustainable energy’. The exchange of expertise on the subject of ‘hydrogen in the Alpine region’ is to be promoted.” For this purpose, the canton of St. Gallen is organizing a conference on May 4, 2023 to formulate a common approach for Arge-Alp members in dealing with hydrogen in the Alpine region .