On 27 February 2025 the conference “High Voltage in the Alps!“ took place in Salzburg under the auspices of the Austrian Presidency of EUSALP. Organised by CIPRA (International Commission for the Protection of the Alps), the event brought together over 160 participants from across the Alpine region. CIPRA, a non-governmental umbrella organisation, represents more than 100 associations, institutions and local authorities from seven Alpine states, making it a key player in addressing Alpine challenges.
The conference focused on green infrastructure, participatory approaches, and cross-sectoral cooperation, tackling pressing questions: How can Alpine spatial planning balance competing demands? How can it mitigate the increasing pressure on mountain regions? And how can renewable energy initiatives, such as the EU’s latest directive and similar efforts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, be implemented without harming nature, landscapes, and biodiversity?
The discussions highlighted the growing tension between energy transition and biodiversity conservation. As the Alps face intensifying land use for electricity generation – through dams, photovoltaic systems, and wind farms – the need for sustainable solutions becomes urgent. While renewable energy is a critical response to the climate crisis, it often conflicts with the equally vital goal of ecosystem restoration.
The EU has acknowledged these dual challenges and enacted far-reaching policies. However, both energy transition and renaturation require space, which is increasingly scarce in the Alps. Spatial planning emerged as a key tool for finding compromises. In this line, experts from various disciplines shared innovative approaches and case studies at the conference, demonstrating how strategic planning can alleviate land-use pressures. Participants engaged in group sessions to discuss these insights and explore collaborative solutions.
CIPRA’s annual conference served as a platform for cross-sectoral dialogue, enabling stakeholders across administrative levels and national borders to address conflicts between energy transition and biodiversity. By fostering knowledge exchange and cooperation, the event underscored the importance of integrated planning to ensure a sustainable future for the Alps.
