The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Swiss environment struggles with pollutants, development

More Swiss are killed each year by smog than die in road accidents swissinfo.ch

Ecological decay, air pollution and unsustainable development are straining Switzerland's environment, a new report has found.

The federally funded Swiss National Science Foundation on Monday released a harsh assessment of the nation’s environmental health, after ten years of research.

The report shows that despite growing awareness of environmental damage, Switzerland is struggling to live within its ecological limits.

The report concludes that the national environment is “heavily encumbered”, and warns of dire consequences for both humans and animals.

Litany of impacts

The Foundation estimates that air pollution alone causes some 3,300 deaths a year. Traffic smog costs about 1,800 lives a year — three times the annual toll from traffic accidents.

Additionally, the report says erosion and chemical pollution threaten a third of the nation’s productive agricultural land.

Switzerland’s natural habitat, which includes wildlife, is in “rapid retreat” – 95 percent of its amphibious animals, 80 percent of its reptiles, 45 percent of its birds, and 32 percent of all native wild-plants have died out or are under threat of extinction.

Every second, a square-meter of land is converted into residential space.

Industry-driven change

The foundation’s report is expected to reinforce concerns about the future of Switzerland’s standard of living – which is particularly prone to natural disasters as a result of the volatile alpine environment.

In order to halt extreme weather patterns, freak storms and associated floods, rapid changes are needed in Switzerland’s political economy, the report says.

The foundation calls for tougher carbon-dioxide regulations, industry-driven emissions reform and tax incentives for ecologically sustainable development.

It also raises serious doubts about Switzerland’s ability to meet its Kyoto commitments on greenhouse gas emissions.

Focus on sustainable development

Federal Parliament commissioned the report in 1991.

In the years since, almost SFr 100million ($60.1million) has been spent on 247 research projects.

The Foundation has used the report to shift its attention towards encouraging sustainable development, and using industry to improve the environment rather than rely on regulations.

Hans Thierstein, president of the expert group which conducted the study, said Switzerland’s strategy of sustainability was “incomplete and insufficient”.

“We all realise that present-day growth rates in all aspects of society and economy cannot be sustained [for ever],” Thierstein told swissinfo.

“You can only improve the environment if the economy is working properly and if people feel socially secure and safe,” he added.

The report is entitled “Vision living-standard – ecologically urgent, economically smart, and socially possible”.

swissinfo with agencies

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR