Recently published emissions numbers for 2016 show that Switzerland has not met its 2016 target for reducing emissions. The 2016 target, set at 27% less than emissions in 1990, was missed by 2.2%. Because of this the government must raise the tax on emissions from CHF 84 to CHF 96 per tonne of CO2 equivalent […]
Earthquake felt in Vaud
Some in the Swiss canton of Vaud might have felt the earth wobble this morning when a quake of 4.3 on the richter scale occurred. The exact location of the quake was Rossinière, according to the Swiss seismological service in Zurich. 10:10 Séisme de magnitude 4.3 à Rossinière VD. Ressenti sur une zone étendue. Dégâts […]
Swiss driverless buses a hit despite accident
By Peter Hulm Sion’s driverless public shuttle buses celebrated their first anniversary of experimental operation in the mainly pedestrian precincts of the Valais capital on 23 June 2017. Switzerland’s PostAuto/PostBus, responsible for the 11-seater yellow electric vehicles built by the French company Navya, said the two SmartShuttles carried more than 21,500 people through the Sion […]
Swiss government says no wind turbines within 300m of homes
After the Swiss public voted in favour of a new energy strategy on 21 May 2017, the government has been busy fine tuning its plans. Switzerland has only constructed 34 wind turbines over the last 20 years, which produce around 0.15% of the nation’s electricity, according to three experts at EPFL and UNIL, two universities in […]
Ash from Portuguese forest fire arrives in Switzerland
A Swiss Meteo air testing station in Payerne, Switzerland has detected ash from Portugal’s forest fire. On 21 June 2017, the first traces were detected over the Swiss plateau by a remote detection device in Payerne. The fire in the Pedrogao Grande forest in Portugal, started on Saturday 17 April 2017 and continued to burn for five days, […]
Swiss water contains too much pesticide, says water industry
24 Heures. More must be urgently done to protect Switzerland’s drinking water, according the Swiss water and gas industry association (SSIGE). One fifth of drinking water samples analysed by the national underground water testing organisation (NAQUA), contained levels of pesticides and nitrates above acceptable levels. And 30% of measurement points, contained very high levels. The highest concentrations […]
Switzerland sizzles on longest day of the year
Switzerland’s longest day of the year is here. Travelling at 110,000 km/h, the earth completes a circuit of the sun every 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, something called a tropical year. The longest day occurs in each hemisphere, when it reaches the point in this annual journey where it is most inclined towards the […]
Heat wave descends on Switzerland
Swiss Meteo has issued a heatwave warning. Temperatures rose beyond 30 today across nearly all of Switzerland. A heatwave is officially declared when a period of high heat is set to last for at least three days. The heatwave warning covers all areas below 800m and is expected to last until Friday, except in Ticino where it will […]
Jet ski use authorised on Lake Geneva
20 Minutes. According to 20 Minutes, jet ski operator Pascal Guarnieri, based in Amphion, France, is over the moon after an administrative tribunal in Grenoble overturned two rulings, clearing the way for jet skis to be used on the French portion of Lake Geneva. After a legal battle lasting ten years, Pascal Guarnieri has achieved his […]
Swiss government rejects environmental call to cut meat advertising subsidies
Those concerned about the environment know the huge cost meat production exacts on the planet. By one measure producing animal protein requires up to 17 times as much land as vegetable protein, up to 26 times as much water, and up to 7 times as much phosphate, a dwindling natural resource. One study calculates that one […]
