A decision by the government of the canton of Fribourg to declare free public transport illegal is being challenged at Switzerland’s Federal Tribunal. A decision by Switzerland’s top court in line with Fribourg’s government could impact plans for free public transport in other Swiss cantons. Switzerland’s constitution appears to exclude the possibility of free public […]
Federal motion aims to ban junk mail in Switzerland
Recently, a motion was put forward in Switzerland’s federal parliament to ban junk mail, reported RTS. In 2018, Swiss Post delivered 2.7 million adverts equivalent to 128 tonnes of paper, according to Katja Christ a parliamentarian from the Liberal Green Party and author of the motion. Nearly 60% of the adverts are unsolicited and around […]
Swiss ski resorts may have to close lifts to save electricity this winter
This coming winter, Swiss ski resorts may be required to cut services to save electricity, reported RTS. Ski lifts and snow making equipment consume the same amount of electricity as 30,000 to 40,000 Swiss households do across a year. It has been suggested that Switzerland’s federal government may require lift operators to cut electricity usage […]
Winter electricity cuts feared, says head of Swiss commission
Electricity cuts lasting several hours are predicted this winter in Switzerland, according to Laurianne Altwegg, vice president of the Federal Electricity Commission. This winter we should ensure we have enough candles and wood for a wood stove for those who have one, advised Altwegg in an interview with RTS. Outages may not occur, but it […]
Exceptionally heavy rain hits parts of Switzerland
After a long dry spell, skies opened in parts of Switzerland on 17 August 2022, reported RTS. 24-hour rainfall reached as high as 90 mm in parts of Ticino, in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, thunderstorms brought heavy rain, wind and hail to certain parts of Switzerland, reported SRF. Hardest hit were […]
Abandoned animal numbers rising in French-speaking Switzerland
After a two-year lull the number of abandoned animals is on the rise, according to animal protection organisations in French-speaking Switzerland, reported RTS. Animal adoptions rose during the Covid-19 pandemic. But as people have transitioned back to normal life the number of abandoned animals has risen and the number in refuges is rising again, particularly […]
Swiss dam dumping water during drought and energy shortage
A dam in Switzerland is releasing huge quantities of water despite widespread drought conditions and hose bans across Switzerland, reported Blick. The Gibidum reservoir and dam in the canton of Valais has a problem that much of the rest of the country would like to have: too much water. The dam that contains the lake’s […]
Hydro electricity industry accused of record fish deaths in Switzerland
High temperatures, a lack of precipitation and competition for water from hydroelectricity is killing record numbers of fish is Switzerland, reported RTS. According to the Swiss Fishing Federation (SFF), we are currently witnessing fish mortality at a historic level with some species facing the threat of extinction. Across the Swiss plateau and the southern side […]
Portable electric heaters may face ban in Switzerland
After a steep rise in gas and heating oil prices, portable electric heaters have been flying of the shelves in Switzerland. However, with a squeeze on electricity production there are fears these extra heaters might destabilise the power grid, reported the newspaper Tagesanzeiger. Portable electric heater sales are up 300% compared to last year, according […]
July 2022 Switzerland’s sunniest month on record
July 2022 broke a Swiss record. Never before has such a sunny month been recorded in Switzerland. Geneva was Switzerland’s sunniest city. There the sun shone for 373 hours, a Swiss record. The previous Swiss record dates back to July 1911, when the sun shone in Bern for 370 hours, reported the weather service Meteo […]
