The parliamentary environmental commission has endorsed a plan to increase the taxes on fuel in Switzerland. Following support for a fuel tax increase by the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, the commission said it supports a rise of 10 cents a litre until 2024 and 12 cents a litre from 2025. These increases are […]
Climate change could cause a billion francs of infrastructure damage a year in Switzerland
Climate change could soon cost Switzerland up to a billion francs a year in damage to infrastructure, according to an estimate by Switzerland’s Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). Between now and 2050, higher temperatures and irregular rainfall could reduce the amount of electricity produced by Switzerland’s hydroelectric infrastructure by several […]
Referendum to ban tobacco advertising in Switzerland reaches 100,000 signatures
An initiative demanding a ban on tobacco advertising has collected 109,969 valid signatures, more than the 100,000 minimum required to launch a popular vote, according to RTS. The planned vote entitled: “Yes to the protection of children and young people against tobacco advertising” demands the federal government ban all forms of tobacco advertising towards children […]
Record numbers protest for climate action in Swiss capital
According to protest organiser Climate Alliance, between 60,000 and 100,000 people gathered in Bern, Switzerland’s capital, last week to urge greater action on climate change. Climate Alliance, says it represents 80 environmental organisations. 100'000 !#Berne #ClimatDeChangement #ClimateAction #ClimateJustice pic.twitter.com/Yl7ge9PNHi — Alliance Climatique Suisse (@alliance_climat) September 28, 2019 Local police did not want to comment on […]
Flight shame and taxes could halve growth in passenger numbers, says UBS
A recent report based on a survey of 6,000 people by the Swiss bank UBS suggests growth in the number of people taking to the skies could halve as people choose to fly less, according to various news media including the BBC. 21% of those surveyed across the UK, France, Germany and the US said […]
New taxes on flights and fuel accepted by Swiss upper house
A majority of the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, recently agreed to raise the tax on fuel and introduce a tax on flights. The plan was accepted by 37 of the 41 members who voted, according to 20 Minutes. To honour its commitment to the Paris climate agreement, Switzerland needs to cut greenhouse gas […]
The Swiss drone that could generate more electricity than a wind turbine
TwingTec, a company spun out of Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, is developing an alternative to wind turbines for harnessing the power of the wind. Wind speeds increase as you move further from the ground. Wind blows up to eight times faster at a height of 500 metres than it […]
Thousands protest against 5G mobile rollout in Swiss capital
Rollout of the next generation of mobile technology, known as 5G, has met with resistance in Switzerland. Last week, a demonstration in Bern, organized by Frequencia against the rollout, attracted thousands, according to RTS. Frequencia claims more than 3,000 people attended the protest. Switzerland is one of the first countries to rollout the new technology, […]
Switzerland’s largest glacier could shrink by half by century end
Recent 3D modelling estimates how climate change will affect the Aletsch Glacier. In the worst case scenario modeled by researchers at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich, only a few small patches of ice would remain. Aletsch, the largest glacier in Switzerland and the Alps, currently stretches over 23 km from its 4,000m high starting […]
50 cm of snow falls in parts of Switzerland
Last night snow fell in parts of Switzerland, according to Meteonews. Noch ein Schneebild aus Tiefenbach im Kanton Uri, aufgenommen heute Morgen auf einer Höhe von 2100 Metern über Meer. Hier liegen rund 30 cm #Neuschnee. #wintereinbruch #schnee @Blickch @20min @nau_live @watson_news @LuzernerZeitung @infokantonuri (rv) pic.twitter.com/JrqU3OB9Oj — MeteoNews (@MeteoNewsAG) September 6, 2019 Most snow fell […]
