Philosophy

… alpS will become a leading research institution for climate change adaptation in mountain regions
… alpS will spearhead innovative adaptation technologies and strategies to open economic opportunities
… alpS will create and strengthen adaptation capacities, reduce vulnerabilities, inspire social change and live sustainability
… alpS will inform and help implement climate change adaptation policy in mountain regions

In these four mission statements the scientific, economic and societal goals of alpS are expressed. alpS aspires to scientific excellence in climate change adaptation in mountain regions.
With this focus alpS assumes a unique position in the continuously growing landscape of climate change related research organisations. Climate change adaptation knowledge is growing fast and dedicated research to expand this knowledge further is important.
alpS and its partners respond to this challenge.

As bleak as some scenarios of the future may seem: everything has two sides - climate change is no different. It is the alps philosophy to not only help minimising the negative aspects of climate change, but also to reap its opportunities for innovation and development.
With this open risk concept, alpS has an optimistic, positive outlook onto the future in all its business areas – energy, risk and climate change adaptation.

Climate change is especially challenging for society and politics. Human-environment systems – particularly in sensitive mountain regions – will be fundamentally affected and sometimes forced to radically adapt to a new reality. Capacities have to be built, vulnerabilities must be reduced and sustainable development fostered.
It is the goal of alpS to generate the necessary knowledge and make it accessible to society to support this process of change. This includes households, organisations, companies and politics in equal measures.

Therefore, alpS follows one vision in its day to day business, all its operations, its strategic planning and communications:

Inspire and Drive Sustainability in Mountain Regions