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 […]
40 percent of Swiss prepared to fly less to spare the environment
Surveyors asked 1,000 people in Switzerland aged from 16 to 74 about their flying habits across both French- and German-speaking Switzerland. 27% said they have already avoided flights over the last two years for environmental reasons. Switzerland’s residents are big air travelers, flying three times as often as the average european, according to WWF. When […]
Heatwave expected in Switzerland next week
According to Meteo Swiss next week will be hot in Switzerland. In an article published yesterday it said the likelihood of high temperatures next week seems to be confirmed. Temperatures on the plateau could rise to between 32 et 35°C. Anyone hoping to find sub zero temperatures will need to get above 4,500 metres high, […]
Swiss government approves further GM crop trials
Last week, the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) gave a green light to trials of genetically modified (GM) barley in Switzerland. Permission was given to the University of Zurich to plant GM barley at a controlled site in the canton of Zurich. The barley has been modified to resist fungal diseases. The experiment aims […]
Climate change affecting Switzerland at twice the global rate
This week, meteorological bigwigs from around the world meet in Geneva, the home of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), to discuss meteorology and climate change. Among many things, the WMO is involved in measuring compliance with greenhouse gas emissions using measuring stations around the world. A report by WMO says that the four years from […]
Radioactivity detected above Mühleberg nuclear plant
Recent aerial air tests detected a higher than average level of radioactivity near the Mühleberg nuclear plant in the canton of Bern, as shown in red in the image below. The source of the radioactivity was identified as vapour containing the radioactive isotope N-16. N-16 has a half life of around 7 seconds, so it loses […]
