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Oberland villages on flood alert

This content was published on May 22, 2009 The lake, near the resort of Grindelwald, has been under observation for some time, as it filled with water from snow melt. On Friday morning it reached a new record level. Geologists recently found hidden pockets of water imprisoned beneath the glacier ice, after its normal outlet had been blocked by a build-up of debris.…

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Concerns raised over disappearing species

This content was published on May 22, 2009 It is estimated that around 100 species become extinct each day worldwide – a threat which also affects Switzerland. Invasive alien species are making the problem worse. It is difficult to imagine a meadow with flowers or a lake without fish, but voices are warning that this may become a reality. “The earth’s biodiversity is…

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Beekeepers stung by loss of colonies

This content was published on May 21, 2009 “It’s a passion but I’m trying to turn it into a business,” Aebischer says, still cheerful despite losing ten of his 32 colonies this winter. In Europe, China and the United States, beekeepers in recent years have been confronted with severe and sudden colony losses and there are fears for the survival of industry. Last…

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Too many Swiss exposed to high noise levels

This content was published on May 18, 2009 According to the Federal Environment Office, efforts to reduce the impact of noise on the population have not been effective. The results, published on Monday, were based on noise from roads, rail and air traffic. The office estimates that 1.2 million people, or 16 per cent of the population, have to deal with high levels…

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Long winter set new records with fewer deaths

This content was published on May 17, 2009 In a wrap-up report detailing last winter’s statistics, the Institute for Snow and Avalanche research in Davos said Switzerland’s wet winter broke numerous records. Starting in early October, snow fell across most of the country, leaving even lowland communities like Zurich with as much as 20cm on the ground. In central Switzerland and the southern…

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“Green New Deal” receives support

This content was published on May 12, 2009 The heads of European environmental protection agencies discussed the relationship between the economy, trade and the environment, said conference chairman Bruno Oberle, director of Switzerland’s environment office. Oberle said after the meeting on Tuesday that he welcomed the opportunity to meet his European counterparts, as this ensured that the interests of Swiss industry over such…

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Air passengers injured in turbulence over Alps

This content was published on May 10, 2009 The pilot of the Munich to Lisbon A321 Airbus made an unscheduled landing at Geneva airport on Saturday to allow for the injured to be treated, the airline said. Some of the injured were apparently not wearing seat belts and fainted. A total of 13 passengers and two of the crew were injured, with the…

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Minister calls for joint alpine traffic action

This content was published on May 9, 2009 He was responding to renewed calls on Saturday by the Alpine Initiative pressure group for the government to introduce a reservation system for lorries transiting the Alps. “Only a coordinated introduction [of a system] across the Alps has a chance of success,” said Leuenberger, addressing an event for the 20th anniversary of the founding of…

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Alpine states see ways to tackle truck traffic

This content was published on May 8, 2009 Moritz Leuenberger, Switzerland’s transport minister, met his counterparts from Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Slovenia in Vienna, where leaders discussed ways of controlling the impact of traffic moving more frequently through the mountains. The first step would be to require trucks crossing the Alps to have lower emissions. Fees levied on commercial trucks should also…

Climate solutions

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…

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Oberland villages on flood alert

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Concerns raised over disappearing species

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Beekeepers stung by loss of colonies

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Too many Swiss exposed to high noise levels

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Long winter set new records with fewer deaths

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“Green New Deal” receives support

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Air passengers injured in turbulence over Alps

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Minister calls for joint alpine traffic action

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Alpine states see ways to tackle truck traffic

More

Government cools on vehicle fuel tax

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