According to the weather forecaster Meteo Swiss, the temperature could reach 38 degrees in Sion on Thursday. High temperatures are also expected in Basel (37), Geneva (37), Zurich (36) and Lausanne (36) on Thursday. The weather service has classified the rest of the weak as a heatwave and issued a degree 3 warning, described as […]
Over 5 million kilograms of plastic released into the environment annually in Switzerland
A recent report from Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) puts annual plastic pollution at 5.12 million kilograms in Switzerland, a figure that excludes plastic pollution from vehicle tires – road abrasion creates tire fragments, which are significant source of environmental plastic pollution. Plastic pollution represents around 0.7% of the 710 million kilograms of […]
Swiss federal government aims to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
Switzerland’s federal government is aiming to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 by making a series of changes to the way it operates. It plans to reduce air travel emissions by making greater use of trains rather than planes for short to medium distance travel in Europe, and it plans to fly […]
The rising carbon footprint of Switzerland’s new cars
In 2018, the average fuel consumption of newly registered cars in Switzerland rose by 3.6% compared to the year before. An average new car in 2018 consumes 6.08 litres per 100 km compared to the year before when it was 5.87 litres per 100 km. Average emissions for the same average new car in 2018 […]
Animals mistreated on 13% of Swiss farms
Switzerland’s Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) recently published the results of its farm inspections in 2018. 35% of the 10,647 inspections were done without warning, a percentage above the 10% minimum. 87% of farms were found to be operating on or above minimum Swiss animal welfare standards, while 13% were below the minimum. […]
Public canteens in Vaud might soon have a meat-free day
Some members of Vaud’s government are demanding a meat-free day in public canteens to promote more environmentally friendly eating, according to the newspaper Le Matin. Producing a gram of animal protein has a much higher environmental impact than a gram of vegetable protein. Livestock production accounts for 70% of all agricultural land (grazing and feedstock […]
Drivers asked to stay out of cars as ozone pollution climbs
As ozone levels surpass healthy limits across the country, the authorities are urging residents to stay out of their cars and off their motorcycles. The governments of Geneva and Vaud both issued statements calling on residents not to drive in a bid to combat ozone pollution. A sharp rise in ozone, a pollutant that can […]
Heat records broken at nearly 30 locations in Switzerland
June temperature records were broken at 27 locations in Switzerland today according to Meteo Swiss. Many locations reached temperatures of over 35 degrees. Sion (35.8), Wynau (35.8), Zurich (35.5) and Basel (35.3) led the way. Geneva (33.4) and Lausanne (30.4) were slightly less scorching. High altitude locations were not all spared. The temperature in the […]
Government rejects vote to ban synthetic pesticides in Switzerland
In February 2019, an initiative to ban the use of synthetic pesticides in Switzerland collected enough signatures to run a referendum entitled: For a Switzerland free of synthetic pesticides. The initiative would ban the use of all synthetic pesticides in Swiss agriculture and the importation of food or animal feed used commercially that is produced […]
Lake Geneva – tests show beaches with cleanest water
A map published recently by the Commission internationale pour la protection des eaux du Léman (CIPEL), a Swiss-French intergovernmental organisation, rates the water quality at most Lake Geneva beaches as excellent or of a medium to good quality. Only one, Pointe-à-la-Bise – Collonge-Bellerive was rated as having water that is sometimes polluted. The map above […]
