Climate protection across borders: Tyrol and South Tyrol united in the fight against climate change

Climate protection across borders: Tyrol and South Tyrol united in the fight against climate change

Last week, environmental representatives from Tyrol and South Tyrol met to discuss strategies to combat climate change. The aim of the meeting was to exchange experiences and best practices in climate protection. A central concern of the event was that all communities in South Tyrol should create their own climate plan by 2027.

At this all-day networking meeting, representatives of the Energy Agency and the Tyrol Climate Alliance reported on how the state of Tyrol is tackling climate change. Despite the different legal frameworks in Austria and Italy, both regions share similar challenges. Both countries, which are members of the European Union, also benefit from comparable funding opportunities, as the organizers explained.

Collaboration across borders

"Climate change knows no borders. It is therefore important to act across borders," emphasized Climate Protection Councilor Rene Zumtobel (SPÖ) and Rupert Ebenbichler from the Tyrol Energy Agency. The long-term goal is to make Tyrol independent of fossil fuels by 2050. In order to achieve this goal, close cooperation and intensive exchange across national borders is required.

During the meeting, various networks, community initiatives and associations that are actively committed to climate protection were presented. It was discussed which instruments are available, how challenges can be overcome and how the population can be involved in these important initiatives. The event was organized by the State of Tyrol, the Tyrol Energy Agency and the Climate Alliance.

Climate protection in numbers

Tyrol already has twelve model regions for adapting to climate change, eleven climate-energy model regions and almost 60 energy-efficient communities. In total, Tyrol has 309 members in the climate alliance, including both companies and educational institutions. Maria Legner, deputy managing director of the Climate Alliance Tyrol, emphasized the importance of networking: "Hundreds of people in Tyrol are committed to a climate-friendly future in their organizations. Comprehensive cooperation at all levels is crucial in order to jointly overcome the challenges that climate change brings with it."

The measures from the various programs flow into the Tyrolean sustainability and climate strategy. To date, 191 specific measures have been successfully implemented. With its Climate Plan 2040, South Tyrol is pursuing a similar strategy that places a lot of responsibility on the communities.

In summary, exchanges between regions not only contribute to improving climate protection strategies, but are also a clear sign that combating climate change is a common goal that extends across geographical boundaries. More information about the activities and results of the meeting can be found in a detailed article on tirol.orf.at be read.