YPAC 2026

- water resources; energy resources; biodiversity; natural risks such as glacial lake outburst floods, slope instability & debris flows -

Glaciers are crucial for regulating the global climate and providing freshwater, which is essential for billions of people. But due to climate change, these vital resources are rapidly melting.

Since 2000 the glaciers have lost 40% of their total volume. Their disappearance directly affects our water reserves, our biodiversity, agriculture and industry. The impacts on some ecosystems are approaching irreversibility, such as the impacts of hydrological changes resulting from the retreat of glaciers, or the changes in some mountain ecosystems driven by permafrost thaw. In addition, the emergence of valuable post-glacial ecosystems can lead to conflicts of interest in these newly accessible areas.

→ How can we adapt to and mitigate the melting process of the glaciers?

- forestry; projects to improve energy efficiency; infrastructure; solar panels etc. -

The EU wishes to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies (Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)) and the EU Member States must report their acceleration areas for renewable energy production by February 2026. In the Alps, however, this must not come at the expense of sensitive natural areas.

Since 2023, the Compliance Committee of the Alpine Convention has been investigating whether the RED III Directive violates the objectives of the international treaty for the protection of the Alps (the Alpine Convention). This committee report states that: “RED III must not lead to the undermining of existing environmental and nature conservation measures. Member states have room for manoeuvre – and they must use it to protect the Alps consistently in accordance with the Alpine Convention.”

→ How can we promote renewable energies without harming the natural areas of the Alpine region even more?

- educational systems, society, mindsets, NIMBY (= not in my backyard) phenomenon -

Education is a powerful tool for building societies' resilience. So far, formal education has focused too much on imparting knowledge about environmental issues rather than inspiring action and is failing to show learners the role they can play in tackling the climate crisis.

'Greening schools and curricula is one of the best levers to tackle climate disruption in the long-term. It’s time to mainstream environmental education across school subjects, at all levels of education with an action-oriented approach that helps young people understand their power to make a difference.' Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

Formal and informal education, including public awareness campaigns and training programmes, are critical for promoting sustainable development, improving the capacity of people and countries to address the climate crisis and reducing eco-anxiety.

→ How can we evolve from climate awareness to climate action?

- diversification of economic resources, green economy and quality of life -

Many Alpine towns still rely heavily on one main economic resource: tourism. The Alpine region attracts more and more tourists every year. It's a thriving business and too often still considered the only economic path to follow and to develop. It's an easy, short-term and short-sighted economic option.

The consequences are dramatic for both the inhabitants (mountain gentrification with high cost of living, too little affordable accommodation, which drives people away; regular tourist spikes, which put enormous strain on both the existing infrastructure and the inhabitants, etc.) and the environment (heavy, high-carbon tourist infrastructure such as gondolas, hotels and spas; air pollution; waste management; over-artificialisation of soils and an over-presence of secondary homes).

Moreover, a single-resource economy is neither resilient nor sound. The basic needs like food and energy are mostly imported, which makes many Alpine towns extremely dependent and economically fragile in the long term.

→ How can we make the economy of the Alpine region more resilient, fairer and more sustainable in the face of climate change?