The Alpine Partnership for Local Climate Action (ALPACA) builds on the idea that communities and local authorities play a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. They are strongly supported by different organizations, such as climate and energy agencies, networks, researchers.
Genesis
At the conference "Climate Protection Now! Alpine municipalities implement!", hosted by the Alliance in the Alps network of municipalities, CIPRA International and the Alpine Town of the Year Association, 120 representatives from all Alpine countries met in Benediktbeuern/D in October 2015 and discussed challenges, instruments, strategies and success factors for climate protection at municipal level. One of the most important results was the publication of a joint appeal to the UN Climate Change Conference.
At the XIV Alpine Conference in Grassau/ D on October 13, 2016, the Alpine states decided to establish a climate partnership between Alpine municipalities. This corresponds to a priority of the multi-annual work program of the Alpine Convention (MAP) and its planned implementation activities (= Roadmap).
Communication as a basis for effective climate adaptation and mitigation
As part of a feasibility study and preparation for the launch of ALPACA (2017-2018), key issues have been identified to better support communities and small regions in their engagement. This project incorporates, among other things, the results of the ALPACA kick off meeting "Let's make climate visions a reality!" which took place in Innsbruck on November 7-8, 2018.In their commitment to climate mitigation and adaptation, local authorities and their partners face major challenges. Among other things, they are constantly dealing with the issue of communication, awareness raising and the step from knowledge to action. Municipalities and LAs, or individuals in municipalities and LAs, cannot accomplish the necessary changes on their own. The framework they can create can only be effective if other actors become active and if higher levels of government pull in the same direction.
A key question for ALPACA is therefore: how can communities and local governments and their partners better communicate climate change to move political leaders, authorities, entrepreneurs and residents to action? In 2019, ALPACA partners intend to address the above question through this project.
The project contributes to establishing the Alpine Partnership for Local Climate Action (ALPACA) in the Alpine Space. This means:
- Strengthen Alpine communities to better face the challenges of climate change (greenhouse gas reduction as well as adaptation to climate change).
- Strengthen networks and umbrella organizations that support the communities in their efforts
- Close the gap between research and practice through knowledge transfer
- Lobby on the national and international stage to increase funding for communities' actions to address climate change
- Increase the visibility of climate mitigation and adaptation efforts at the local level and raise awareness about how to address the climate crisis
