Bird flu risk is currently high warns Switzerland’s Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). At the end of 2019, the bird flu virus H5N8 was discovered on a number of poultry farms in Poland. In addition, several cases have been reported on farms in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic and Ukraine. Among wild birds, […]
Swiss private bank Pictet to drop fossil fuel investments
Recently, the private bank Pictet, based in Geneva, announced plans to eliminate all of its investments in companies actively associated with the production and extraction of fossil fuels, according to a press release. The bank defines companies actively associated with the production and extraction of fossil fuels as those generating more than 25% of their […]
Swiss environmental agency sets no date for 5G launch
Earlier this week, Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) announced it had contacted the cantons at the end of January 2020, informing them it had not set a date for switching on 5G networks. However, mobile networks plan to continue installing 5G equipment after rolling out more than 2,000 antenna last year – a […]
Switzerland tests its sirens
Every year, Switzerland tests its apocalyptic-sounding sirens on the first Wednesday of February. This year it will be done on 5 February 2020, starting at 13:30. Sirens will be sounded for three minutes. The tests finish at 14:00 for general sirens, and 15:00 for flood sirens. If an alarm sounds outside of these times it […]
Ticino requires smokers to clock out for smoke breaks
From the beginning of February 2020, employees working for the canton of Ticino will need to clock out if they want to go for a cigarette break, according to RTS. The new rule, which is the first of its kind in Switzerland, follows comments made last year by a parliamentarian who pointed out the favourable […]
Credit Suisse accused of spying on Greenpeace
According to SonntagsZeitung, the bank Credit Suisse has been spying on Greenpeace. Nearly three years ago, the environmental organisation thwarted security and disrupted the bank’s general assembly with a stunt aimed at shaming Credit Suisse for financing Energy Transfer, a company involved in the construction of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline running through reserves […]
Top 10 environmental concerns in Switzerland
Recently published data show the top ten environmental concerns among Switzerland’s residents. In 2019, top of the list was pesticide use. 89.4% considered this very (52.9%) or fairly (36.5%) dangerous. Next was loss of animal and plant diversity. 88.2% considered this very (53.8%) or fairly (34.4%) dangerous. Third was climate change. 87.8% considered this very […]
5G protests continue in Switzerland, following inconclusive report
On 25 January 2020, further protests against the roll of 5G mobile technology took place in 16 towns across Switzerland, according to protest organisers. The protests follow the publishing of an inconclusive Swiss report by experts on the health risks of the radiation emitted by the technology published on 28 November 2019. Some hoped the […]
Heavy snow falls in Swiss resorts
This week, Switzerland’s mountain resorts are experiencing heavy snowfall. By Wednesday evening between 20 and 50 centimetres of fresh snow will have fallen at altitudes above 1,000m, reaching a depth of 70 centimetres in some places, according to Meteo Swiss. The snow line will be between 600 and 900m, according to the weather service. The […]
Landmark judgment in favour of climate activists in Switzerland
In 2018, 12 climate activists entered a branch of the bank Credit Suisse in Lausanne, Switzerland and started playing tennis. Their prank aimed to draw attention to the bank’s investments in companies involved in the fossil fuel industry. Tennis alluded to the marketing work Roger Federer has done for the bank. The bank called the […]
