Monaco, 14-15 November 2019
Air quality and biodiversity loss in the Alps. These were some of the main topics on the agenda of the 68th meeting of the Permanent Committee of the Alpine Convention. The two-day conference was generously hosted by the Principality of Monaco in support to the current French Presidency.
Representatives of the eight Alpine countries and the EU as well as observers from NGOs and other partners gathered in the Maritime Alps, in the southernmost part of the Alpine arc. Secretary General Alenka Smerkolj: “The Maritime Alps have an important role to play as sentinels of climate change: they are experiencing first-hand its impacts such as water scarcity and droughts. On the other hand, they are one of the most experienced regions to share solutions for the adaptation to climate change with other Alpine regions”.
The meeting gave the members the opportunity to discuss about the implementation of the Alpine Climate Target System 2050 and of the Multi-Annual Work Programme (MAP) 2017-2022. During the Committee, the new edition of the Young Academics Award was announced, which is dedicated to the topic “Emissions in the Alps: climate change and air quality - measurements and measures”. Alenka Smerkolj: “Young academics play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Alps. With this Award, we want to recognize their research on relevant Alpine topics as key element to further develop sustainability in the Alpine region”.