Cluster: Science

March unusually sunny

This content was published on Apr 1, 2012 Normally the sun is visible 30 to 50 per cent of the time during the day, but this year that figure was between 65 and 80 said MeteoSwiss, the Swiss national weather service. This is comparable to conditions around the Mediterranean. Over the last ten days of the month, the skies remained clear for the…

Oceans hid CO2 during last ice age

This content was published on Mar 30, 2012 An international team of glaciologists found that the close connection between CO2 and temperature has existed over the past 800,000 years: with low CO2 concentrations during the ice ages and higher CO2 values during warm periods. They then tried to work out where the carbon dioxide was hidden during the ice ages and how it…

Climate solutions

Swiss urge creation of new sustainability body

This content was published on Mar 24, 2012 Swiss delegation chief Franz Perrez said it had made “ambitious but not unrealistic” proposals to advance talks at a preparatory meeting in New York this week ahead of the June conference. The new council would replace the Commission on Sustainable Development and answer directly to the United Nations General Assembly. The idea was put forward by a…

Climate solutions

Springtone

This content was published on Mar 24, 2012 Swiss springtime officially began at 5.14 a.m. on March 20. Signs of the change of season are everywhere. Images: Keystone, Reuters, AFP

Task force set up to solve second home issues

This content was published on Mar 15, 2012 On Sunday 50.4 per cent of Swiss voters agreed that “in every commune where at least 20 per cent of homes are second homes, no more second homes may be built”. But it’s unclear how this will work in practice. Environment Minister Doris Leuthard has created a working group to clarify certain issues, saying it…

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Tourist regions outvoted in holiday home upset

This content was published on Mar 11, 2012 Environment Minister Doris Leuthard called on all sides involved to cooperate to clarify open questions and prepare the necessary legal reforms which respect the new constitutional amendment. Leuthard said many questions about the scope of the initiative and pending construction permits remained to be answered. She said the cabinet shared voters’ concern about the increasing…

Climate solutions

Japanese visit reflects Fukushima’s human face

This content was published on Mar 10, 2012 The trip was organised by the environmental organisation Greenpeace Switzerland to show the “human face” of the catastrophe, which saw a tsunami and earthquake trigger a meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear reactor. The Japanese visitors stand on the bank of the River Aare at twilight. It is a beautiful setting. Across the river is the…

Climate solutions

Less snow falling in lower Alps

This content was published on Mar 9, 2012 The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research looked at long-term measurements at 76 observation stations. The institute said rising temperatures were a factor. There was an increase of 0.57 degrees measured each decade for the past 30 years, often transforming snow into rain from 2000 onwards. Certain low-altitude stations recorded a 60…

Climate solutions

Swiss map out Rio+20 goals

This content was published on Mar 9, 2012 The cabinet approved on Friday its mandate for the United Nations conference, saying it hopes to see a “green economy roadmap” drawn up, setting out goals for sustainable development and the concrete measures to attain them. To support the roadmap, the government says national action plans are needed and deadlines also need to be set.…

Swiss at odds over roadmap to nuclear-free future

This content was published on Mar 9, 2012 While the technology to replace atomic power, especially for renewable energy, exists to a large extent, its implementation faces financial and political hurdles before it becomes a reality. “There was a before and after Fukushima moment. Swiss energy policy was never the same,” Christian Democrat Party president Christophe Darbellay said. Indeed, a full spectrum of…

Cluster: Science

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Cluster: Science

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March unusually sunny

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Oceans hid CO2 during last ice age

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Swiss urge creation of new sustainability body

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Springtone

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Task force set up to solve second home issues

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Tourist regions outvoted in holiday home upset

More

Japanese visit reflects Fukushima’s human face

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Less snow falling in lower Alps

More

Swiss map out Rio+20 goals

More

Swiss at odds over roadmap to nuclear-free future

Popular Stories

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