Cluster: Science

Government cools on vehicle fuel tax

This content was published on May 8, 2009 The proposed measures are largely supported by business circles and by the centre-right parties but have run into a storm of criticism from environmentalists. The cabinet announced on Wednesday it would follow the European Union’s target for 2020 to cut emission levels by 20 per cent in comparison with those of 1990. Should the EU…

Climate solutions

Government says no CO2 tax on fuel for vehicles

This content was published on May 6, 2009 Authorities said they would continue to levy a tax against CO2 emissions from fuels used in homes and other buildings. Cabinent ministers said the idea behind the tax remains unchanged: to spur a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020. The government will present parliament with a proposal by…

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swine flu poll

This content was published on May 1, 2009

Heavy spring snowfall cuts off villages

This content was published on Apr 29, 2009 The Simplon Pass – one of Switzerland’s major north-south arteries – was closed to traffic on Wednesday after 1.5 metres of snow fell on the south side of the pass. Phone lines were also down for several hours. Authorities additionally reported road closures in the Goms region in the eastern part of canton Valais, as…

Climate solutions

Electric car challenges gas guzzling mentality

This content was published on Apr 19, 2009 The e’mo car aims to tap into the growing demand for ecological vehicles and the ongoing fad for trendy gadgets. It is hoped that car owners will snap it up as a second, run-a-round vehicle for short daily trips. The project leader, professor Markus Henne at the Technical University of Rapperswil, told swissinfo that he…

Climate solutions

Sino-Swiss visit aims to tighten energy ties

This content was published on Apr 17, 2009 His first day in the country included a visit to the Three Gorges dam on the Yangtze River and a meeting with the Chinese minister for water. Leuenberger admitted to being impressed by the “enormous scale” of the dam, which he said protected millions of people from flooding and produced renewable energy, helping to cut…

Climate solutions

Greenhouse gas emissions decline

This content was published on Apr 16, 2009 The findings were part of the current greenhouse gas inventory for Switzerland, which was passed to the United Nations on Wednesday. Figures for 2007 and 2006 show that greenhouse gas emissions from heating fuels in particular went down by nine per cent. About a third of the drop can be attributed to the very mild…

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Swiss show themselves to be bear friendly

This content was published on Apr 14, 2009 Once numerous in Switzerland, brown bears have been making a comeback since 2005, wandering in from neighbouring Italy. But the last one, JJ3, was shot after it became dangerous to humans. “The survey reveals that overall 85 per cent of Swiss want the bear, saying it’s an Alpine animal and it belongs here. The same…

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Glaciers continue to disappear

This content was published on Apr 4, 2009 Although the winter of 2007 was one of the snowiest ever – with many stations reporting record snowfalls – this was cancelled out by a hot summer. The Gorner Glacier alone shrank by 290 metres. “The measurements confirm once again the ongoing glacial retreat observed over recent years,” Andreas Bauder, a glaciologist at the institute,…

Climate solutions

Black drink saves from white death

This content was published on Apr 1, 2009 From Wednesday the barrels round the necks of the Swiss Alpine Club’s 135 official mountain rescue dogs will be replaced by miniature Nespresso-style coffee machines. “It was a purely business decision,” said Jörg Ettinghadt from the Swiss Alpine Club. “The global financial crisis has meant we’ve got to either cut back the number of dogs…

Cluster: Science

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Cluster: Science

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Government cools on vehicle fuel tax

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Government says no CO2 tax on fuel for vehicles

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swine flu poll

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Heavy spring snowfall cuts off villages

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Electric car challenges gas guzzling mentality

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Sino-Swiss visit aims to tighten energy ties

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Greenhouse gas emissions decline

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Swiss show themselves to be bear friendly

More

Glaciers continue to disappear

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Black drink saves from white death

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