In 2016, nearly 418 million disposable plastic bags were distributed at retail checkouts across Switzerland. By 2018, the number was less than 57 million, a drop of 86%, according the Swiss Retail Federation. Most of the decline occurred after a group of retailers in Switzerland signed an agreement with the Swiss Retail Federation to charge […]
Some Swiss train platforms might not be smoke-free until 2020
Many looking forward to smoke-free train platforms in Switzerland might be disappointed. The public transport union (UTP) announced in November 2018 that Swiss train platforms would be free of smoking from 1 June 2019 after testing the concept earlier in 2018. However, according to a recent press release 1 June 2019 is the rollout start […]
Overnight trains could return to Switzerland
Last week a spokesperson for Swiss Rail told Swiss broadcaster SFR that the rail company was discussing reintroducing long distance overnight sleeper trains. 15 years ago, Switzerland had an extensive overnight train network with destinations including Rome, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Graz Zagreb and Moscow. Progressively nearly all of these […]
Switzerland ranks near bottom for solar and wind energy
While Switzerland makes the most of the hydro generation potential of its snowy mountains, it scores less well on wind and solar generation. In a Europe-wide comparison by the Swiss Energy Foundation (SEF), Switzerland ranks near the bottom for per capita solar and wind power production. In addition, growth in solar is slow and growth […]
Smoking ban on Swiss train platforms faces delays
From 1 June 2019, Swiss train platforms are to be smoke free, in theory at least. In practice the ban could take longer at some train stations, according to the news website Watson. Implementing the ban involves creating designated smoking areas, something which will require more time in some locations, particularly at small regional train […]
Illegal nitrite found in tuna sold in Switzerland
Fresh tuna has is a nice red colour, however it quickly turns brown when exposed to the air. Tuna is easier to sell red than brown so those involved in the trade are faced with a temptation to reverse the discolouration. In 2017, an estimated CHF 200 million was made tricking retailers and consumers in […]
Parts of Switzerland shaken by earthquake
If you live near Montreux you might have felt an earthquake yesterday at 10:48 am when one measuring 4.2 struck. The quake was widely felt in the region and the police received a number of calls from concerned residents. Many would have heard a loud bang. The quake’s epicentre was around 15 km from Montreux in […]
Only 38% of young Swiss men fertile, according to research
Research by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) found that only 38% of the men it studied in Switzerland had sperm above the standard the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers men to be fertile. The study, which analyzed sperm from 2,523 men between the ages of 18 and 22 who were conceived and born in Switzerland, […]
Question of the week: why do so many expect government to solve climate change?
Climate protests are becoming increasingly regular and their message appears to be aimed primarily at government. However, we are all, protestors included, contributing to the problem by consuming food, energy, clothing and by moving around. And while there are things governments could do, they appear to be largely damned if they do and damned if […]
Swiss nuclear power station automatically shut down
Over the weekend the nuclear power station at Leibstadt was stopped, according to the broadcaster RTS. At 2:16am on Sunday one of the reactors at the nuclear power station of Leibstadt was automatically stopped in response to the malfunction of a pressure regulator. After the shutdown the reactor was in a stable state with no […]
