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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about “environment”
Volunteers needed to help save the whales
Thursday, 15 April, 2010
Fancy a trip to the Gulf of California or the Azores for a spot of whale or dolphin watching—all in the name of scientific research? The Swiss Cetacean Society is looking for around 100 “ecovolunteers” to take part in a series of expeditions, which it describes as “crucial to the survival of certain dolphin and whales species.” WRS’s Carla Drysdale speaks with Max-Olivier Bourcoud, president of the Swiss Cetacean Society:
Thursday, 15 April, 2010
Fancy a trip to the Gulf of California or the Azores for a spot of whale or dolphin watching—all in the name of scientific research? The Swiss Cetacean Society is looking for around 100 “ecovolunteers” to take part in a series of expeditions, which it describes as “crucial to the survival of certain dolphin and whales species.” WRS’s Carla Drysdale speaks with Max-Olivier Bourcoud, president of the Swiss Cetacean Society:
Business anxieties bubble over rising CO2 tax
Tuesday, 13 April, 2010
Is Switzerland’s energy policy scaring off foreign investors? Late last week, an Austrian firm closed its cardboard manufacturing plant in the canton of Bern, laying off over 250 workers. It blamed a high CO2 tax and unstable energy regulations for its inability to turn a profit. For economiesuisse, Switzerland’s largest business federation, this is a wake-up call. Why exactly, remains unclear to the Federal Department of the Environment, which has downplayed the plant’s closure as an isolated case. Lucas Chambers reports:
Tuesday, 13 April, 2010
Is Switzerland’s energy policy scaring off foreign investors? Late last week, an Austrian firm closed its cardboard manufacturing plant in the canton of Bern, laying off over 250 workers. It blamed a high CO2 tax and unstable energy regulations for its inability to turn a profit. For economiesuisse, Switzerland’s largest business federation, this is a wake-up call. Why exactly, remains unclear to the Federal Department of the Environment, which has downplayed the plant’s closure as an isolated case. Lucas Chambers reports:
Satellite set to track shrinking ice caps to the centimetre
Thursday, 8 April, 2010
There are many theories as to why the Earth’s ice caps are melting. Global warming is one, but other factors such as changing ocean currents are thought to be at play. Scientists hope to have a better idea in the future thanks to the European Space Agency’s Cryosat-2 satellite set to be launched from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan later today. On board is an impressive array of equipment, including two radar antennas built by Switzerland’s RUAG Space. From an orbit of 720 kilometres above the Earth, these antennas will measure the thickness of the ice to the nearest centimetre. WRS’s Adam Beaumont got the lowdown from Hendrik Thielemann, head of communications at RUAG Space:
Thursday, 8 April, 2010
There are many theories as to why the Earth’s ice caps are melting. Global warming is one, but other factors such as changing ocean currents are thought to be at play. Scientists hope to have a better idea in the future thanks to the European Space Agency’s Cryosat-2 satellite set to be launched from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan later today. On board is an impressive array of equipment, including two radar antennas built by Switzerland’s RUAG Space. From an orbit of 720 kilometres above the Earth, these antennas will measure the thickness of the ice to the nearest centimetre. WRS’s Adam Beaumont got the lowdown from Hendrik Thielemann, head of communications at RUAG Space:
CITES species meeting comes to a close in Doha
Thursday, 25 March, 2010
Over the past two weeks, experts have been grappling with the challenge of protecting endangered species, while taking into account the economic imperatives of countries around the world. Coming to a close today in Doha is a key meeting of countries who’ve signed up to CITES, an international convention on the trade of endangered species. WRS’s Carla Drysdale looks at what came out of that meeting
Thursday, 25 March, 2010
Over the past two weeks, experts have been grappling with the challenge of protecting endangered species, while taking into account the economic imperatives of countries around the world. Coming to a close today in Doha is a key meeting of countries who’ve signed up to CITES, an international convention on the trade of endangered species. WRS’s Carla Drysdale looks at what came out of that meeting
How, how much, at what price: CO2 reduction debate reopens
Wednesday, 17 March, 2010
MPs in Bern today will turn their attention back to a popular initiative which calls for Switzerland to pledge to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2020. Those behind the proposal are urging the government to bring in better incentives for more energy-efficient buildings and more fuel-efficient cars rather than increased fuel taxes. But the Cabinet’s put forward a counter-proposal, saying the 30 percent target is too high—and too expensive. WRS’s Catherine Allen asked Green Party MP Bastien Girod about the argument that such big CO2 cuts would cost Switzerland too much:
Wednesday, 17 March, 2010
MPs in Bern today will turn their attention back to a popular initiative which calls for Switzerland to pledge to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2020. Those behind the proposal are urging the government to bring in better incentives for more energy-efficient buildings and more fuel-efficient cars rather than increased fuel taxes. But the Cabinet’s put forward a counter-proposal, saying the 30 percent target is too high—and too expensive. WRS’s Catherine Allen asked Green Party MP Bastien Girod about the argument that such big CO2 cuts would cost Switzerland too much:
Mountain plants growing higher and higher
Thursday, 4 February, 2010
Scientists in Davos say plants are growing at far higher altitudes than they did 100 years ago. The researchers are following in the footsteps of botanist Wilhelm Schibler who studied the flora and fauna in great detail. Over a 30-year period, Schibler climbed all the mountains above 2,600 metres around Davos, recording the plants he found. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on a high life among the plants:
Thursday, 4 February, 2010
Scientists in Davos say plants are growing at far higher altitudes than they did 100 years ago. The researchers are following in the footsteps of botanist Wilhelm Schibler who studied the flora and fauna in great detail. Over a 30-year period, Schibler climbed all the mountains above 2,600 metres around Davos, recording the plants he found. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on a high life among the plants:
Swapping eco-friendly wood chips for salt, gravel on snowy walkways
Tuesday, 12 January, 2010
They’re messy, they’re bad for the environment, and yet so far we’ve found nothing better than gravel and salt to keep people from slipping on snow-blown sidewalks. But an alternative solution, launched in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the canton of Neuchâtel, is sparking a lot of interest at home and abroad: wood chips. They’re biodegradable, they work longer than gravel and they don’t leave nasty white streaks on your shoes like salt does. So far so good, but let’s not carried away, say environmentalists. Lucas Chambers has the story:
Tuesday, 12 January, 2010
They’re messy, they’re bad for the environment, and yet so far we’ve found nothing better than gravel and salt to keep people from slipping on snow-blown sidewalks. But an alternative solution, launched in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the canton of Neuchâtel, is sparking a lot of interest at home and abroad: wood chips. They’re biodegradable, they work longer than gravel and they don’t leave nasty white streaks on your shoes like salt does. So far so good, but let’s not carried away, say environmentalists. Lucas Chambers has the story:
Cantons go back to the energy solution drawing board
Thursday, 3 December, 2009
Last Sunday, the people of Vaud rejected an unlimited operating license for the nuclear power plant in Mühleberg in canton Bern. At the same time in neighboring Neuchâtel, voters shot down a bill proposed by their cantonal government that would have forced building renovations for greater energy efficiency. The parties and environmental groups who supported the bill are disappointed, but some say the result is no surprise considering the lack of support and clarity in the incentives provided. Lucas Chambers has more:
Thursday, 3 December, 2009
Last Sunday, the people of Vaud rejected an unlimited operating license for the nuclear power plant in Mühleberg in canton Bern. At the same time in neighboring Neuchâtel, voters shot down a bill proposed by their cantonal government that would have forced building renovations for greater energy efficiency. The parties and environmental groups who supported the bill are disappointed, but some say the result is no surprise considering the lack of support and clarity in the incentives provided. Lucas Chambers has more:
Tuesday, 25 August, 2009
Most scientists agree that climate change is happening and the Alps are already feeling the impact. Now visitors to the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland can see and learn about the effects as they tour the region. Bern University scientists have developed seven climate change trails for tourists to follow via GPS on iPhones. You can hire the guide for CHF20 a day at the tourist offices in Grindelwald, Wengen or Murren or download the software on your own iPhone. WRS’s Vincent Landon has more:
Monday, 29 June, 2009
Many of us have turned to local organic produce as a means of reducing our ecological footprint. But environmentalists fear that simply returning to organic farming is not enough, that we have to repair the damage we’ve done to the environment through harmful agricultural practices. In the Canton of Valais, where many of the country’s most popular wines are made, one winemaker in particular has come up with a way to grow grapes, power his operation and re-absorb CO2 from the atmosphere all at the same time. It’s called climate farming and it’s attracted attention from all over the world. WRS video journalist Amy Wong went to see how this works.
Green
Sunday, 28 June, 2009
Sunday, 28 June, 2009
Mondays at 12:50 pm during The Mix
Pete Forster takes a regular look at the environment, the changing global climate and all things green.
Green is taking a short hiatus, but it will be back soon!
Friday, 26 June, 2009
Dr. Ruxandra Stoicescu explains to WRS’s Conor Lennon why countries are getting excited about climate change now and how they’re prepping for the upcoming conference in Copenhagen.
Putting eco-friendly food on the table
Friday, 15 May, 2009
What does eating and cooking in an environmentally friendly way mean here and now, at this moment, in 2009? At first blush, most people would say it means eating organic food—and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!—but there’s so much more to it these days:
Friday, 15 May, 2009
What does eating and cooking in an environmentally friendly way mean here and now, at this moment, in 2009? At first blush, most people would say it means eating organic food—and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!—but there’s so much more to it these days:
