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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about environment
Plastic bag ban deemed 'waste of time'
Friday, 14 December, 2012
Plastic bags are to be banned in supermarkets in Switzerland. The move follows a narrow vote in the Council of States yesterday. The motion had previously been approved by the National Council, which means the government now has the task of writing it into law. Those backing the move argued that it was high time to put an end to the needless pollution they cause. So just how big a problem are these throw-away plastic bags? WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Yves Lurincheek, CEO of Quantis, a Swiss company specialised in assessing products’ environmental footprints:
Friday, 14 December, 2012
Plastic bags are to be banned in supermarkets in Switzerland. The move follows a narrow vote in the Council of States yesterday. The motion had previously been approved by the National Council, which means the government now has the task of writing it into law. Those backing the move argued that it was high time to put an end to the needless pollution they cause. So just how big a problem are these throw-away plastic bags? WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Yves Lurincheek, CEO of Quantis, a Swiss company specialised in assessing products’ environmental footprints:
UN expert rejects climate skeptic Singer's ideas
Thursday, 13 December, 2012
October’s Hurricane Sandy was the latest in a string of extreme weather events which experts agree was a result of global warming caused largely by greenhouse gas emissions. But there are still a few dissenters out there who dispute the solid scientific evidence that climate change is man-made. One of them is the American atmospheric physicist, Dr Fred Singer, who recently passed through Geneva. Michael Hollingdale reports.
Thursday, 13 December, 2012
October’s Hurricane Sandy was the latest in a string of extreme weather events which experts agree was a result of global warming caused largely by greenhouse gas emissions. But there are still a few dissenters out there who dispute the solid scientific evidence that climate change is man-made. One of them is the American atmospheric physicist, Dr Fred Singer, who recently passed through Geneva. Michael Hollingdale reports.
In terms of climate, Doha talks 'not a success'
Monday, 10 December, 2012
Global climate change talks in Doha came to an end over the weekend, with experts hailing the start of a new era in negotiations. The conference didn’t produce meaningful cuts in greenhouse gas emissions but it did see over 190 countries agreeing to implement a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol through to 2020. And pundits are pointing to one major shift in discussions—the talks opened up the possibility of wealthier countries compensating developing countries for losses due to climate change. Reto Knutti is a professor at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science of the ETH Zurich and has been following the conference. WRS’s Dave Goodman discusses the issues with him:
Monday, 10 December, 2012
Global climate change talks in Doha came to an end over the weekend, with experts hailing the start of a new era in negotiations. The conference didn’t produce meaningful cuts in greenhouse gas emissions but it did see over 190 countries agreeing to implement a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol through to 2020. And pundits are pointing to one major shift in discussions—the talks opened up the possibility of wealthier countries compensating developing countries for losses due to climate change. Reto Knutti is a professor at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science of the ETH Zurich and has been following the conference. WRS’s Dave Goodman discusses the issues with him:
Hopes dim for progress at climate talks in Qatar
Monday, 26 November, 2012
The latest UN sponsored summit on climate change opens today in Qatar and expectations are not running high. The most recent talks in Durban last year ended in an agreement to change the way negotiations would progress. The Kyoto Protocol, the only global emissions agreement in place is due to expire at the end of this year and it’s not certain there will be anything to take its place. Meanwhile the scientific community is telling us the gap between where we are and where we need to be if we want to limit temperature rises to two degrees is becoming increasingly untenable. Professor Jorge Vinuales is an environmental law specialist with the Graduate Institute and he speaks with WRS’s Pete Forster:
Monday, 26 November, 2012
The latest UN sponsored summit on climate change opens today in Qatar and expectations are not running high. The most recent talks in Durban last year ended in an agreement to change the way negotiations would progress. The Kyoto Protocol, the only global emissions agreement in place is due to expire at the end of this year and it’s not certain there will be anything to take its place. Meanwhile the scientific community is telling us the gap between where we are and where we need to be if we want to limit temperature rises to two degrees is becoming increasingly untenable. Professor Jorge Vinuales is an environmental law specialist with the Graduate Institute and he speaks with WRS’s Pete Forster:
'The credibility of Nagra is almost zero'
Thursday, 11 October, 2012
The organisation charged with managing Switzerland’s nuclear waste has been in damage limitation mode this week. Nagra’s been trying to contain the fallout from a leaked document which seems to suggest that waste sites have already been chosen though the public consultation is still ongoing. On Wednesday, Nagra held a press conference to say sorry while the Federal Office of Energy promised tighter supervision. But as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports, saying sorry does not appear to have satisfied the critics:
Thursday, 11 October, 2012
The organisation charged with managing Switzerland’s nuclear waste has been in damage limitation mode this week. Nagra’s been trying to contain the fallout from a leaked document which seems to suggest that waste sites have already been chosen though the public consultation is still ongoing. On Wednesday, Nagra held a press conference to say sorry while the Federal Office of Energy promised tighter supervision. But as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports, saying sorry does not appear to have satisfied the critics:
Document suggests radioactive sites already chosen
Monday, 8 October, 2012
The decision of where to stock radioactive waste in Switzerland may have already been made behind the scenes, despite guarantees of an upfront, democratic process. That’s what the Sunday Swiss press says, with a document to back up its claim. The decision was due to be made with the Federal Council but it appears the company responsible might have already made plans. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Monday, 8 October, 2012
The decision of where to stock radioactive waste in Switzerland may have already been made behind the scenes, despite guarantees of an upfront, democratic process. That’s what the Sunday Swiss press says, with a document to back up its claim. The decision was due to be made with the Federal Council but it appears the company responsible might have already made plans. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
What are 'climate refugees' and how can they be protected?
Wednesday, 3 October, 2012
Switzerland has teamed up with Norway to launch a UN initiative that aims to give greater recognition to those displaced by natural disasters. Fifteen million people were displaced last year alone according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Currently so called “climate change refugees” have no legal status and the Nansen Initiative aims to change that. Manuel Bessler from the Agency for Development and Cooperation is representing Switzerland at the talks. He told WRS’s Dave Goodman more about what the initiative hopes to achieve and began by explaining the confusion caused by calling displaced people “refugees:”
Wednesday, 3 October, 2012
Switzerland has teamed up with Norway to launch a UN initiative that aims to give greater recognition to those displaced by natural disasters. Fifteen million people were displaced last year alone according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Currently so called “climate change refugees” have no legal status and the Nansen Initiative aims to change that. Manuel Bessler from the Agency for Development and Cooperation is representing Switzerland at the talks. He told WRS’s Dave Goodman more about what the initiative hopes to achieve and began by explaining the confusion caused by calling displaced people “refugees:”
Zurich firm finds niche in recycling grind
Monday, 1 October, 2012
We all feel obliged to do it but recycling can be very time consuming and potentially annoying. Bottles and cans stack up in your hallway or kitchen and you run out of time to take them to the bottle bank—but you feel guilty for throwing them in with your normal rubbish. So what can you do? One Zurich start-up thinks it has the answer. WRS’s Jo Fahy went to meet the men at Mr. Green:
Monday, 1 October, 2012
We all feel obliged to do it but recycling can be very time consuming and potentially annoying. Bottles and cans stack up in your hallway or kitchen and you run out of time to take them to the bottle bank—but you feel guilty for throwing them in with your normal rubbish. So what can you do? One Zurich start-up thinks it has the answer. WRS’s Jo Fahy went to meet the men at Mr. Green:
Bern's strategy for nuclear phaseout
Friday, 28 September, 2012
After the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, the Swiss federal government made the decision to phase out nuclear energy, and today it laid out the first part of its energy strategy to make that happen. It calls for a 35 percent cut in energy consumption by 2035. WRS’s Jordan Davis is at the Federal Palace in Bern, and explains where these cuts could come from:
Friday, 28 September, 2012
After the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, the Swiss federal government made the decision to phase out nuclear energy, and today it laid out the first part of its energy strategy to make that happen. It calls for a 35 percent cut in energy consumption by 2035. WRS’s Jordan Davis is at the Federal Palace in Bern, and explains where these cuts could come from:
How Lake Geneva debris gets into food chain
Monday, 24 September, 2012
As the summer draws to a close, many of us will have fond memories of hot weather and swimming in Switzerland’s lakes or rivers. But over the weekend, specialists in the French-speaking part of the country got together to highlight the risk of rubbish and debris polluting what are otherwise beautiful, picturesque sites. They took part in a huge clean-up operation of Lake Geneva. One of those getting stuck in was the vice president of the Royal Geographical Society, Paul Rose. He’s a diver, polar expert, explorer and a passionate environmentalist. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to him:
Monday, 24 September, 2012
As the summer draws to a close, many of us will have fond memories of hot weather and swimming in Switzerland’s lakes or rivers. But over the weekend, specialists in the French-speaking part of the country got together to highlight the risk of rubbish and debris polluting what are otherwise beautiful, picturesque sites. They took part in a huge clean-up operation of Lake Geneva. One of those getting stuck in was the vice president of the Royal Geographical Society, Paul Rose. He’s a diver, polar expert, explorer and a passionate environmentalist. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to him:
Swiss food sovereignty 'is a little joke'
Thursday, 20 September, 2012
The National Council spent nine hours yesterday debating the country’s new agricultural policy—and there’s more to come. In that time MPs did manage to vote for more sustainability and competitiveness. And they approved the idea of having farmers do more to contribute to the landscape, not just plant or raise animals. Debate continues next week, but WRS’s Jordan Davis looks at some key issues that have been left unanswered:
Thursday, 20 September, 2012
The National Council spent nine hours yesterday debating the country’s new agricultural policy—and there’s more to come. In that time MPs did manage to vote for more sustainability and competitiveness. And they approved the idea of having farmers do more to contribute to the landscape, not just plant or raise animals. Debate continues next week, but WRS’s Jordan Davis looks at some key issues that have been left unanswered:
Looking at Bern's big debates on agriculture policy
Wednesday, 19 September, 2012
Farmers are gearing up for the biggest battle in years as the National Council debates agricultural policy today. The government’s plans for reforming subsidies are on the agenda. Should farmers be paid per animal or per hectare of land as they are now? Or should they be paid more to maintain the landscape? Two opposing visions of agriculture are set to clash. WRS’s Jordan Davis discusses what is at stake:
Wednesday, 19 September, 2012
Farmers are gearing up for the biggest battle in years as the National Council debates agricultural policy today. The government’s plans for reforming subsidies are on the agenda. Should farmers be paid per animal or per hectare of land as they are now? Or should they be paid more to maintain the landscape? Two opposing visions of agriculture are set to clash. WRS’s Jordan Davis discusses what is at stake:
Digesting organic meat's pros, cons
Wednesday, 19 September, 2012
It is hailed as better for the environment and better for you but a new report from the Federal Department of Agriculture highlights the downside of eating organic or bio meat. The study also looks at the environmental impact of rearing animals in Switzerland compared with importing meat from abroad. WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Thomas Nemecek from the research group and began by asking about the bad side of bio:
Wednesday, 19 September, 2012
It is hailed as better for the environment and better for you but a new report from the Federal Department of Agriculture highlights the downside of eating organic or bio meat. The study also looks at the environmental impact of rearing animals in Switzerland compared with importing meat from abroad. WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Thomas Nemecek from the research group and began by asking about the bad side of bio:
IUCN alarmed by 'utilitarian' view of nature
Monday, 17 September, 2012
The world’s largest and most important conservation event wrapped up this weekend. The World Conservation Congress is organised by the Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature and is held every four years—this time in South Korea. Among the topics discussed were a new list of the planet’s 100 most endangered species—mammals, plants, amphibians and birds which are at the very brink of extinction. The list includes some species where fewer than 10 individuals have survived in the wild. Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy coordinator of the IUCN’s species programme, told WRS’s Catherine Allen more about the 100 species:
Monday, 17 September, 2012
The world’s largest and most important conservation event wrapped up this weekend. The World Conservation Congress is organised by the Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature and is held every four years—this time in South Korea. Among the topics discussed were a new list of the planet’s 100 most endangered species—mammals, plants, amphibians and birds which are at the very brink of extinction. The list includes some species where fewer than 10 individuals have survived in the wild. Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy coordinator of the IUCN’s species programme, told WRS’s Catherine Allen more about the 100 species:
Swiss vision to feed the world anchored in Israeli desert
Monday, 3 September, 2012
Just over two years ago, Swiss philanthropist Samuel Josefowitz shared his ambitious vision to feed the world with top Israeli agriculture and water researchers. Today, these researchers are cautiously optimistic that a little plot of sand in Israel’s Negev desert holds the key. From Israel, Vanessa O’Brien has this report:
Monday, 3 September, 2012
Just over two years ago, Swiss philanthropist Samuel Josefowitz shared his ambitious vision to feed the world with top Israeli agriculture and water researchers. Today, these researchers are cautiously optimistic that a little plot of sand in Israel’s Negev desert holds the key. From Israel, Vanessa O’Brien has this report:
