Cluster: Science

Climate charter gets “über cool” iPhone boost

This content was published on Jun 10, 2009 The Jungfrau Climate Charter aims to strengthen the central Swiss region’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions and better inform the six million annual visitors and local residents about climate change. Taking into account the region’s “marked evidence” of the consequences of global warming such as glacier recession, rockfall, glacial lake formation and flooding, Bern University…

Climate solutions

Ministers work to protect the environment

This content was published on Jun 9, 2009 Leuenberger, who heads Switzerland’s environment ministry, said big polluters like China, Brazil and the United States must also commit to reducing their emissions. The meeting in Salzgitter, Germany, comes shortly before an environmental conference in Denmark. Leuenberger discussed Switzerland’s efforts to reduce its emissions by 20 per cent against 1990 levels with ministers from Austria,…

Climate solutions

Little political support to cut urban sprawl

This content was published on Jun 4, 2009 The two initiatives launched by the Franz Weber Foundation call for a limit on the construction of second residences and for tighter restrictions on large building projects such as shopping centres and sport stadiums. The foundation has collected about 110,000 signatures to force a nationwide vote on the issue, prompting Thursday’s parliamentary debate. Speakers from…

Climate solutions

Carbon tax money to improve insulation

This content was published on Jun 3, 2009 The House of Representatives on Tuesday agreed to suggestions by the Senate on how the money would be spent, namely placing two-thirds into a national programme for modernising insulation. The House had originally wanted the cantons to take part in the programme, although this is no longer the case. Both chambers did however demand the…

Climate solutions

Environment report draws mixed balance

This content was published on Jun 2, 2009 Environment Switzerland 2009, a report by the Federal Environment Office and the Federal Statistics Office, says that although progress has been made in many sectors, improvement has slowed since the turn of the millennium. Urban sprawl continues, albeit at a noticeably slower pace, said the report which was published on Tuesday. This mainly occurs to…

Climate solutions

Swiss help forge climate treaty

This content was published on Jun 1, 2009 Some 3000 delegates from all over the world started their meeting on Monday to try to find an agreed text to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which runs out in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 and in force since 2005, set binding targets for industrial countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, which are…

Climate solutions

German praise for Swiss nuclear waste policy

This content was published on May 27, 2009 He was speaking to journalists after his Swiss counterpart, Moritz Leuenberger, addressed members of the German parliament’s environment commission about Switzerland’s attempts to find an acceptable depot for its nuclear waste. “Switzerland is not trying to rush into this”, Gabriel said, “The focus has been first and foremost the safety and security of a possible…

Climate solutions

Radiation levels from phones skyrocket

This content was published on May 27, 2009 However, the authors of a study published on Wednesday said the average strength of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields, 0.22 volts per metre, was still well under the permitted limits in Switzerland. Researchers from Bern and Basel universities measured the impact on individuals by strapping electromagnetic-detection devices to 166 volunteers. The study found mobile phones, mobile phone…

Climate solutions

Storms end run of hot weather

This content was published on May 26, 2009 A man died in the eastern canton of Thurgau, crushed in his car when a tree fell on it, the local police said. In the central city of Lucerne a woman suffered moderate injuries in a similar accident. Another tree fell onto the power line of a local railway in the Emmental, and trains had…

Climate solutions

“Green” road sweeper promises less pollution

This content was published on May 24, 2009 The road sweeper, which is powered by fuel cell technology, emits no exhaust fume pollutants, which would mean cleaner air for city dwellers. The Bucher CityCat H2 is the brainchild of researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa), near Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, and is being…

Cluster: Science

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Cluster: Science

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Climate charter gets “über cool” iPhone boost

More

Ministers work to protect the environment

More

Little political support to cut urban sprawl

More

Carbon tax money to improve insulation

More

Environment report draws mixed balance

More

Swiss help forge climate treaty

More

German praise for Swiss nuclear waste policy

More

Radiation levels from phones skyrocket

More

Storms end run of hot weather

More

“Green” road sweeper promises less pollution

Popular Stories

Most Discussed