Ulrich Strasser, an Innsbruck-based geographer specialising in water, is calling for greater humility towards nature in spatial planning. Climate change is often used as a convenient argument to justify poor planning and to access public funds. The UN World Water Report also turned its attention to mountainous countries and climate change.

"It's not always just climate change's fault that something happens," says Strasser. "A natural disaster is something that we humans call it that," says the researcher from the University of Innsbruck. Nature itself knows no disasters — water simply runs down the mountain. "As a rule, we have done something beforehand that leads to what is called a natural disaster occurring."

A great deal of harm is avoidable

It would be wise and prudent to plan sustainably in land-use zoning as well, and to leave room for things to change. Higher rainfall intensity can give rise to new flooding situations, "and if the river has no space, it will take it." With a humble attitude and sensitivity to adaptation, a great deal of subsequent harm can be avoided.

Read the article at tirol.orf.at

This year's Klimatag, taking place in Innsbruck until 25 April, is dedicated to a similar topic: "The Alps as a Living and Economic Space"!