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Water falls under global summit spotlight

This content was published on Mar 23, 2003 But non-governmental organisations have criticised a ministerial declaration for failing to describe water as a basic human right. The high-level talks were largely overshadowed by the start of United States-led military action in Iraq, but Philippe Roch – director of the Swiss Environment Agency – told swissinfo the summit had achieved at least some of…

Climate solutions

Swiss launch International Year of Freshwater

This content was published on Mar 21, 2003 The Swiss authorities hope to step up efforts to conserve the precious commodity and increase access to clean water around the world. Dubbed Europe’s “water reservoir”, Switzerland is blessed with abundant supplies of water. It receives twice the average annual rainfall in Europe, and is the source of the continent’s two main rivers, namely the…

Climate solutions

Poison on tap in Bangladesh

This content was published on Mar 20, 2003 Wells contaminated with arsenic have put tens of millions of people at risk of poisoning. Nagaskanda is one of villages where the SRC is active. It’s rural community in the picturesque district of Faridpur, some 70km west of the capital, Dhaka. Rivers, canals, ponds and paddy fields criss-cross the plains. Bright saris worn by local…

Swiss strive to ensure safe sanitation for all

This content was published on Mar 14, 2003 At present more than two billion people are estimated to have no sewage system at all. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) says that although it has been working to improve waste systems in developing countries since the 1980s, it is fighting an uphill struggle against overwhelming demand. The SDC has been involved…

Climate solutions

Running Water

This content was published on Mar 13, 2003 Whether by drought or floods, people in Switzerland are repeatedly threatened by either too much, or not enough water.Yet Switzerland’s water resources remain equally threatened by human activity.Swiss waterways are afflicted by countless chemicals, which kill animals and plants – as well as humans.Similarly, Switzerland’s large numbers of dams pose a real risk. Were those…

Switzerland ranks 16th in world water survey

This content was published on Mar 5, 2003 But the report warned of a deepening global water crisis that could see up to seven billion people face severe shortages by 2050. The UN’s cultural unit, Unesco, ranked Finland first, ahead of Canada, Britain and New Zealand in the index. Belgium was considered worst on account of poor quality groundwater and heavy industrial pollution,…

Climate solutions

Swiss aid group keeps watchful eye on Chad pipeline

This content was published on Feb 1, 2003 Chad stands to earn $10 billion from Africa’s biggest development project, but human rights groups say it is already having a negative impact on ordinary people. At a press conference in Bern this week, the aid group, Swissaid, called on those involved, along with the Swiss government’s development agency, to keep a close eye on…

Climate solutions

Swiss glaciers continue to melt

This content was published on Jan 10, 2003 Some 121 glaciers are regularly analysed, and almost all of the 64 scrutinised over the 2001/02 period were found to be receding. Of the 64 studied by the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences, 58 shrank during the monitoring period, with the worst affected – the Surettagletscher in canton Graubünden – contracting by 94 metres. Only…

Climate solutions

Lichens and dragonflies face uncertain future

This content was published on Jan 2, 2003 The Swiss environment agency says man is largely to blame for the losses, with industry, transport and leisure activities the principal culprits. Dragonflies and lichens have joined some 3,000 other plants and animals on the agency’s national list of endangered species. There are believed to be more than 2,000 species of lichen in Switzerland. From…

Climate solutions

Swiss take stock of Year of Mountains

This content was published on Nov 23, 2002 But non-governmental organisations have criticised the Swiss government for not doing enough to protect mountain communities and their environment. At a press conference in Bern this week, speakers from regional and national politics outlined what had been achieved over the past 12 months. Remo Gautschi, of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), said…

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Water falls under global summit spotlight

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Swiss launch International Year of Freshwater

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Poison on tap in Bangladesh

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Swiss strive to ensure safe sanitation for all

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Running Water

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Switzerland ranks 16th in world water survey

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Swiss aid group keeps watchful eye on Chad pipeline

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Swiss glaciers continue to melt

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Lichens and dragonflies face uncertain future

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Swiss take stock of Year of Mountains

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