An arctic weather system could bring Switzerland’s coldest winter snap since February 2012, says the weather service MeteoNews. France, Scandinavia, Russia and also the UK and Italy are likely to feel the chill too. Heating of air in the arctic stratosphere has upset the normal flow of weather. Winds in Europe typically blow off the […]
High Swiss emissions – the impact of imports and population growth
Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office has come up with a new greenhouse gas emissions figure for Switzerland, which includes emissions from imports. The idea is that emissions related to a computer made in China but bought by someone in Switzerland belong to Switzerland rather than China. Adding this in takes Swiss per capita emissions from 4.9 […]
Recent poll shows how much Swiss care about the environment
Poll results published this week show how Swiss view the environment and climate change. 72% agreed it was necessary to do something to combat climate change, 5% were undecided and 23% said it wasn’t. 43% were in favour of a carbon tax – a tax paid by polluters and redistributed to everyone, 14% were undecided […]
January 2018 warmest ever recorded in Switzerland
The average monthly temperature in January 2018 in Switzerland was the highest recorded since recording began in 1864, according to Swiss Meteo. Across all Swiss weather stations the average was 0.6 degrees Celsius, a bit above the last record of 0.4 degrees in January 2007. Geneva was particularly warm. There the average for the month […]
Geneva Airport cleans up its emissions but ignores its past
In 2016, the airport says it removed 10,000 tCO2 from the atmosphere, the amount it emitted that year. It has been investing in extracting carbon since 2011. Based on its emissions effort in 2016, it became one of 37 carbon neutral airports, according to airport carbon accreditation. These emissions relate only to the airport and […]
Some Swiss train platforms to go smoke-free in February
From 1 February 2018, Swiss Rail will start trialling smoke-free train platforms in Nyon, Neuchâtel, Basel, Zurich, Chur and Bellinzona. If successful the ban could become permanent and cover all Swiss Rail stations by the end of the year. Some smokers interviewed at Nyon train station by the newspaper Le Matin, described the move as […]
Further heavy snow and rain forecast to hit Switzerland
On 21 January 2018, Meteo News reported that Switzerland is expected to be hit by more heavy snow and rain over the next three days, which will add to the significant snow that has already fallen. The avalanche warning has been raised to 5, the highest level, across much of the Swiss Alps. Further roads […]
Burning trees instead of coal puts forests at risk. Both sides not talking does too.
Scott Poynton, founder of The Forest Trust, in Nyon, reacts to the biomass debate. Last November, two videos hit the airwaves. One by Fern, an NGO against burning trees. Another by Drax, a biomass energy champion. The case for using trees for fuel is that it leaves coal in the ground. Opponents say its the […]
Punishing dogs for barking banned by new Swiss animal welfare rules
Recent changes to Swiss laws regarding animal welfare were not confined to live lobster boiling. Dogs were also considered. Illegal dog trading in Switzerland will soon be easier to spot. Dog sellers must list their address, the dog’s place of origin and where it grew up, in adverts. And more information will be required for the government’s central dog […]
Switzerland bans boiling lobsters alive
Last week, Switzerland’s Federal Council adopted new rules to improve the treatment of lobsters, part of a general revamp of rules on the treatment of animals. Lobsters and other crustaceous animals can no longer be transported on ice or in icy water in Switzerland. Instead they must be kept in a natural environment. In addition, […]
