This week, a 58.4MW battery-storage plant has opened in Gurtnellen, in the canton of Uri, reported Axpo. It is the largest of its kind in Switzerland, though probably not for long. What is it? Switzerland’s biggest battery-storage facility has been connected to the grid in Gurtnellen. The project was developed jointly by Axpo and Energie […]
Switzerland just had its hottest summer ever
Switzerland has endured its hottest summer since records began 162 years ago in 1864. Between June and August 2026 the national average temperature reached 17.2°C, MeteoSwiss said on Thursday, 0.4°C above the previous record set in 2003. The summer average was also 3.4°C above the 1991-2020 norm. The heat was especially intense in north-western Switzerland, […]
Swiss shift strongly in favour of air conditioning
A hot summer has shifted attitudes towards cooling. Swiss voters also favour stronger protections for workers and pupils when temperatures soar. Air conditioning remains uncommon in Switzerland. Only about one household in ten has it. But that may be changing.A survey by Leewas for 20 Minuten and Tamedia, conducted after the hot summer of 2026, […]
Swiss government unlocks 70m to help farmers and forest owners with drought damage
Switzerland’s government is stepping up support for forestry and agriculture, two sectors hit particularly hard by drought and extreme heat. On Wednesday the Federal Council approved CHF 17.5m for forests and CHF 54m for farms. Switzerland is enduring an exceptional drought. Never before has the country recorded so little rainfall by mid-August, Albert Rösti, the […]
Swiss hopes for the future look surprisingly familiar
Asked what sort of country they would like to live in, the Swiss favour nature, local production and personal freedom—and are distinctly cool on a future run by artificial intelligence. Futurologists tend to be more interested in what is new than in what works. The Swiss, it seems, are less drawn to novelty. A new […]
Federal government sets new rules on 30km/h zones
At parliament’s request, the Federal Council said on Wednesday that, from October 1st, municipalities wishing to lower the limit on main roads will have to show that the change will not divert traffic into residential neighbourhoods, reported RTS. An expert assessment will be required to demonstrate that the lower limit is unlikely to cause undesirable […]
Federal Council opposes initiative to curb fossil-fuel funding
This week, the Federal Council said it opposes the popular initiative “For a sustainable and future-oriented financial centre in Switzerland” and has also rejected the idea of a counter-proposal. reported SRF. The initiative’s backers say it is intended to ensure that the Swiss financial centre no longer contributes to environmental damage and climate change through […]
Swiss teachers’ unions say schools are ill-equipped for hot summers
Many children return to school next week. Switzerland’s sweltering summer has renewed concern over the condition of its schools, many of which are poorly equipped to cope with extreme heat. Meeting in Bern on Thursday, teachers’ unions warned that high temperatures can impair children’s ability to learn, reported RTS. Investing in school buildings means investing […]
Swiss Liberal Greens want less polluting cigarette filters
Around 1,000 tonnes of cigarette butts are discarded on the ground in Switzerland each year. The Green Liberal Party wants the federal government to do more to tackle the problem, including encouraging tobacco companies to redesign cigarette filters, reported RTS. Most filters are made from cellulose acetate, a polymer also used in the textile industry. […]
Swiss home battery sales are booming. The maths still doesn’t add up
Switzerland’s residential battery market is growing fast. Around half of new photovoltaic installations are now paired with storage, according to Swissolar. Falling battery prices, lower payments for surplus solar power and the prospect of more flexible electricity tariffs are all helping to drive demand. But popularity should not be confused with profitability. In Switzerland, solar […]
