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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about environment
PlanetSolar faces Gulf of Aden pirate threat in its final stretch
Tuesday, 13 December, 2011
It has been 15 months now since a team of explorers launched its bid to go around the world in a solar-powered boat. The PlanetSolar project aims to showcase solar technology and demonstrate its potential. The team set off from Monaco, crossed the Atlantic, stopped off in Cancún for the world climate change summit, then headed across the Pacific to Australia. They then navigated some of the world’s most exotic channels, including around Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and India. On the final stretch, PlanetSolar is preparing to enter the Gulf of Aden—notorious for its piracy threat. To hear how the adventure is going and what measures they’re taking for the coming weeks, WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Raphaël Domjan, founder of PlanetSolar:
Tuesday, 13 December, 2011
It has been 15 months now since a team of explorers launched its bid to go around the world in a solar-powered boat. The PlanetSolar project aims to showcase solar technology and demonstrate its potential. The team set off from Monaco, crossed the Atlantic, stopped off in Cancún for the world climate change summit, then headed across the Pacific to Australia. They then navigated some of the world’s most exotic channels, including around Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and India. On the final stretch, PlanetSolar is preparing to enter the Gulf of Aden—notorious for its piracy threat. To hear how the adventure is going and what measures they’re taking for the coming weeks, WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Raphaël Domjan, founder of PlanetSolar:
Green growth seen as incentive to reduce climate change impact
Monday, 12 December, 2011
UN climate talks finally wrapped up over the weekend as efforts to battle out a deal were extended by two days. So what was decided—world changing action or just more hot air? WRS’s Dave Goodman talked to Stewart Maginnis, director of the Global Forest and Climate Change Programme at IUCN—the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization based in Gland:
Monday, 12 December, 2011
UN climate talks finally wrapped up over the weekend as efforts to battle out a deal were extended by two days. So what was decided—world changing action or just more hot air? WRS’s Dave Goodman talked to Stewart Maginnis, director of the Global Forest and Climate Change Programme at IUCN—the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization based in Gland:
Going green for Christmas with a live tree
Monday, 12 December, 2011
Many people have probably been out this past weekend looking to buy a Christmas tree. Given growing concerns about the environment, the idea of chopping down trees just so we can have a few weeks of seasonal fun may seem out of step with the times. Reporter Rosalind Yarde has been investigating an increasingly popular trend in Geneva—hiring or buying recyclable Christmas trees:
Monday, 12 December, 2011
Many people have probably been out this past weekend looking to buy a Christmas tree. Given growing concerns about the environment, the idea of chopping down trees just so we can have a few weeks of seasonal fun may seem out of step with the times. Reporter Rosalind Yarde has been investigating an increasingly popular trend in Geneva—hiring or buying recyclable Christmas trees:
'The glacier is just wasting away'
Friday, 9 December, 2011
In Durban, eleventh hour negotiations continue for a post-Kyoto agreement. Should they fail—and even if they don’t—the world’s mountains are destined to pay a high price. This Sunday is International Mountain Day and Verbier is hosting a conference on mountains and climate change. One of the speakers there is David Breashears, professional climber and filmmaker who will be talking about his experiences in the Himalayas. He speaks to WRS’s Pete Forster about how he became aware of the scale of glacier degradation by photographing the same spot also done by explorer George Mallory in the 1920s:
Friday, 9 December, 2011
In Durban, eleventh hour negotiations continue for a post-Kyoto agreement. Should they fail—and even if they don’t—the world’s mountains are destined to pay a high price. This Sunday is International Mountain Day and Verbier is hosting a conference on mountains and climate change. One of the speakers there is David Breashears, professional climber and filmmaker who will be talking about his experiences in the Himalayas. He speaks to WRS’s Pete Forster about how he became aware of the scale of glacier degradation by photographing the same spot also done by explorer George Mallory in the 1920s:
Giving up on climate change? IUCN has a nature-based solution
Thursday, 24 November, 2011
Next week the next United Nations climate change meeting begins in Durban. The Guardian reported last week that most of the world’s leading economies have privately admitted that no new global agreement will be reached before 2016 and any agreement is unlikely to come into force until 2020. With the Kyoto protocol set to expire next year, things do not seem to be looking up for groups such as the International Union for the Cönservation of Nature. WRS’s Pete Forster called up the IUCN’s Trevor Sandwith for his reaction to that story:
Thursday, 24 November, 2011
Next week the next United Nations climate change meeting begins in Durban. The Guardian reported last week that most of the world’s leading economies have privately admitted that no new global agreement will be reached before 2016 and any agreement is unlikely to come into force until 2020. With the Kyoto protocol set to expire next year, things do not seem to be looking up for groups such as the International Union for the Cönservation of Nature. WRS’s Pete Forster called up the IUCN’s Trevor Sandwith for his reaction to that story:
Business Insight: A photovoltaic energy revolution awaits
Wednesday, 2 November, 2011
Photovoltaic energy has far-reaching economic and social potential according to some experts. WRS’s Pete Forster explores the future of this alternative power source:
Wednesday, 2 November, 2011
Photovoltaic energy has far-reaching economic and social potential according to some experts. WRS’s Pete Forster explores the future of this alternative power source:
'I would prefer to die than to live without forests'
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The United Nations has decreed this year the International Year of Forests, and even though it’s getting a little chilly under the trees, volunteers are still signing up to do their part before the first snowfall. The Bergwaldprojekt, or Mountain Forest Project, recruits about 500 volunteers a year. It says forests in Switzerland are doing well for the most part but there is at least one hidden enemy. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports from the woods above Montreux in the canton of Vaud:
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The United Nations has decreed this year the International Year of Forests, and even though it’s getting a little chilly under the trees, volunteers are still signing up to do their part before the first snowfall. The Bergwaldprojekt, or Mountain Forest Project, recruits about 500 volunteers a year. It says forests in Switzerland are doing well for the most part but there is at least one hidden enemy. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports from the woods above Montreux in the canton of Vaud:
Debate over immigration heats up amid population surge
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The UN says we’re going to welcome the world’s seven-billionth human today as the global population continues to grow. But can our planet sustain this? And what about the impact on the environment—even in a country like Switzerland where the population has doubled since the 1940s to 7.8 million? WRS’s Dave Goodman is joined by Benno Büeler from the Ecopop group, which launched a popular initiative against overpopulation in Switzerland. He also talks to Felix Gnehm from the conservation group WWF Switzerland:
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The UN says we’re going to welcome the world’s seven-billionth human today as the global population continues to grow. But can our planet sustain this? And what about the impact on the environment—even in a country like Switzerland where the population has doubled since the 1940s to 7.8 million? WRS’s Dave Goodman is joined by Benno Büeler from the Ecopop group, which launched a popular initiative against overpopulation in Switzerland. He also talks to Felix Gnehm from the conservation group WWF Switzerland:
Spotlight on 'how we live' as world population reaches 7 billion
Monday, 31 October, 2011
According to UN estimates the global population is set to reach seven billion today. Not only does this sound like an awful lot of people but it also raises a significant number of questions—not least about sustainability and resources. To answer some of them, WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Stéphane Cotter, head of demographics at the Swiss Federal Statistical Office:
Monday, 31 October, 2011
According to UN estimates the global population is set to reach seven billion today. Not only does this sound like an awful lot of people but it also raises a significant number of questions—not least about sustainability and resources. To answer some of them, WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Stéphane Cotter, head of demographics at the Swiss Federal Statistical Office:
Jura storm brewing over wind farms
Tuesday, 25 October, 2011
Jura is one of the most promising areas for wind park projects in Switzerland. And with the country’s decision to move away from nuclear energy there’s a growing necessity for renewable replacements. But the villagers of Bourrignon recently voted against a plan to install wind turbines near their homes. But local authorities could overrule the vote—in spite of the protests. If they do, some villagers have threatened to blow up the wind turbines. On either side of the argument are Alain Giger from the Geneva based utility company SIG, and David Eray is a Christian Democrat MP for Jura and a member of the anti-wind turbine association Librevent. They talk to WRS’s Dave Goodman:
Tuesday, 25 October, 2011
Jura is one of the most promising areas for wind park projects in Switzerland. And with the country’s decision to move away from nuclear energy there’s a growing necessity for renewable replacements. But the villagers of Bourrignon recently voted against a plan to install wind turbines near their homes. But local authorities could overrule the vote—in spite of the protests. If they do, some villagers have threatened to blow up the wind turbines. On either side of the argument are Alain Giger from the Geneva based utility company SIG, and David Eray is a Christian Democrat MP for Jura and a member of the anti-wind turbine association Librevent. They talk to WRS’s Dave Goodman:
Climate change likely to boost flash floods in mountain valleys
Monday, 17 October, 2011
A massive flash flood has left several valleys in the Bernese Oberland and the canton of Valais drenched and badly damaged. This sort of thing is only supposed to happen in spring but experts warn that alpine regions should brace for more because of climate change. Predicting extreme weather in the mountains remains a tricky business. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports.
Monday, 17 October, 2011
A massive flash flood has left several valleys in the Bernese Oberland and the canton of Valais drenched and badly damaged. This sort of thing is only supposed to happen in spring but experts warn that alpine regions should brace for more because of climate change. Predicting extreme weather in the mountains remains a tricky business. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports.
Lunch with WRS: Louis Palmer, solar car inventor
Wednesday, 12 October, 2011
Louis Palmer is a former Swiss schoolteacher turned inventor who completed the first round-the-world trip in a solar-powered car in 2008. He also directed the zero emissions race around the world earlier this year. He talks to WRS’s Lucas Chambers about his vision for a world where zero-emissions vehicles are the norm:
Wednesday, 12 October, 2011
Louis Palmer is a former Swiss schoolteacher turned inventor who completed the first round-the-world trip in a solar-powered car in 2008. He also directed the zero emissions race around the world earlier this year. He talks to WRS’s Lucas Chambers about his vision for a world where zero-emissions vehicles are the norm:
Making mountains a higher priority
Wednesday, 12 October, 2011
Mountains need a higher profile on the international agenda. One hundred experts from around the world are meeting in Lucerne to hammer out a common message which representatives will take to Rio+20—the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development scheduled for next June. The two-day meeting has brought together representatives of governments, NGOs, academia, civil society, politics, business and the United Nations. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on the World Mountain Conference:
Wednesday, 12 October, 2011
Mountains need a higher profile on the international agenda. One hundred experts from around the world are meeting in Lucerne to hammer out a common message which representatives will take to Rio+20—the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development scheduled for next June. The two-day meeting has brought together representatives of governments, NGOs, academia, civil society, politics, business and the United Nations. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on the World Mountain Conference:
Scientists agree: Swiss temperatures are rising
Thursday, 29 September, 2011
Switzerland is more than likely heating up. Swiss scientists met in Zurich yesterday to unveil the CH2011 report which shows three possible climate change scenarios. They all hinge on lawmakers’ decisions and the rate of greenhouse gas emissions pumped into the atmosphere. But as WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports, whatever happens, scientists agree that temperatures here are climbing:
Thursday, 29 September, 2011
Switzerland is more than likely heating up. Swiss scientists met in Zurich yesterday to unveil the CH2011 report which shows three possible climate change scenarios. They all hinge on lawmakers’ decisions and the rate of greenhouse gas emissions pumped into the atmosphere. But as WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports, whatever happens, scientists agree that temperatures here are climbing:
