AlpWeek 2024 recently took place in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, marking 20 years since the inaugural event in Kranjska Gora. This year’s conference, held from September 23-25, gathered over 200 participants to discuss the past two decades of development in the Alps and envision a sustainable future for the region.

Under the theme ‘Alps in Our Hands,’ the event featured interactive workshops, keynote speeches, and excursions to explore the local area. The program included three engaging keynote speeches addressing climate action, biodiversity and ecosystems, and quality of life, aligning with the Alpine Conference’s priorities for 2023-2030. There were also several side events, such as a session on ‘Quality of Life’ organized by the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention. This included practical insights from the ‘Territorial Quality of Life Living Labs’ project, highlighting this method’s potential to connect residents with policymakers to better address community needs.

Additionally, the Italian Delegation hosted a discussion on Alpine cultures, focusing on balancing conservation and innovation. This discussion resulted in a set of recommendations on involving local communities in planning, preserving local languages and dialects, safeguarding cultural and artistic heritage, and providing essential services for mountain populations to combat depopulation. Finally, the Alpine Climate Board conducted a training course aimed at engaging diverse stakeholders in climate action.

“The AlpWeek is an excellent example of the value of bringing together different perspectives and working across borders to find solutions – which is also the foundation of the Alpine Convention,” said Alenka Smerkolj, Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, during the event. “ Thank you to the organisers who made this special event happen and to all the participants who are helping shape the future of the Alps!”

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For further details, read the official AlpWeek 2024 news report on the Alpine Convention website.