Swiss climate scientists are sounding the alarm over the severe effects of global warming on the alpine environment.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ug
The slopes in the Alps and elsewhere have become increasingly unstable as the permafrost soil keeps getting warmer, says Konrad Steffen, director of the Federal Institute for Forest and Landscape Research.
The climate crisis has been a focal point for the United Nations this week and for Swiss parliament which is mulling introduction of a tax on airline tickets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The thawing of the polar caps sets free reserves of carbon stored in the ice for thousands of years, according to Steffen, who was quoted on Wednesday in a statement of the Swiss Academy of SciencesExternal link.
Steffen is one of the more than 100 researchers from nearly 40 different countries contributing to the latest report of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“We can preserve the essential parts of the iconic high mountain regions by a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” added Carolina Adler of the Swiss-based research network, Mountain Research InitiativeExternal link.
In the report, published on Wednesday, the IPCC says the sea levels will rise by up to 0.84 centimetres at the end of this century, likely making some island nations uninhabitable due to global warming.
Carbon tax
Meanwhile, the Swiss Senate has decided in principle to impose a tax of CHF30 to CHF120 ($30-$120) on airline tickets to curb air traffic.
Senators also came out in favour of increasing a tax on fuel imports to 12 centimes maximum per litre by 2025 – a six-fold increase on the current import tax.
The decisions came despite warnings by representatives of the mountain regions.
The other parliamentary chamber, the House of Representatives has yet to tackle the revision of the carbon law. The House threw out the government bill in a first reading last December.
The Swiss government pledged to beef up its Paris Agreement pledges and become climate-neutral by 2050, saying that the target is feasible by using already available technologies and renewable energy.
More
More
Snapshots of a changing alpine climate
This content was published on
Retreating glaciers leave behind polished stone, waterfalls and small lakes of exquisite beauty. Unterfinger’s striking images tell a story of climate change that began with the last ice age and continues – at a more rapid pace – today. Swiss researchers at the federal technology institute, ETH Zurich, say that warmer winters leading to more…
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
This content was published on
On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.
Swiss launch competition for memorial to Nazi victims
This content was published on
The victims of Nazi Germany are to be commemorated on the Casinoterrasse in Bern. A competition will be held to determine what the site will look like.
This content was published on
The cantonal police of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland have arrested and convicted five cocaine dealers in Chur within a week.
This content was published on
The Swiss business umbrella organisation Economiesuisse and the employers' association broadly support the package of agreements negotiated with the European Union.
Top Swiss politician experiences drone attack in Ukraine
This content was published on
Maja Riniker, president of the Swiss House of Representatives, said she had to spend two hours in a bunker during her trip to Ukraine because of Russian drone attacks.
This content was published on
A rockfall caused an interruption of several hours on the Albula line of the Rhaetian Railway between Thusis and Tiefencastel on Thursday.
This content was published on
A 600kg bull that escaped in the Montalchez region of canton Neuchâtel has been found in a pen surrounded by several cows.
Bern chatbot wins UN artificial intelligence award
This content was published on
The Bern-based chatbot "Sophia" has won the United Nations' "AI for Good Impact Award 2025". The chatbot is designed to help victims of domestic violence.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss scientists and virtual reality focus on shrinking glaciers
This content was published on
As climate researchers predict virtually ice-free Alps by 2100, a virtual reality exhibition helps people envision what that means.
Largest Alpine glacier could lose half of volume by century’s end
This content was published on
Swiss researchers have used 3D modelling to calculate how severely global warming is impacting ice cover on the Aletsch Glacier.
This content was published on
On average, Switzerland is about 1.9° Celsius hotter now than in 1864. Where and by how much have temperatures most drastically changed?
Climate warming is global and fast, say Swiss experts
This content was published on
Swiss scientists have discounted allegations that the current climate change is a recurring phenomenon in the history of mankind.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.