Geneva

Switzerland is making significant strides in addressing the pressing issue of climate change, recognising the substantial risks it has brought in recent years.

These risks encompass not only threats to public health due to soaring temperatures but also its far-reaching consequences on diverse communities and the environment, marked by unprecedented glacier melting in the Swiss Alps, which has rendered the Alpine slopes increasingly unstable.

In June 2023, Switzerland approved a groundbreaking law to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This law aligns with Switzerland’s ongoing commitment to embracing eco-friendly energy alternatives, thereby supporting various sectors to actively participate in measures and initiatives aimed at combatting the challenges posed by climate change.

The new legislation is pivotal, not solely for ensuring energy security but also for addressing the climate change repercussions, magnified by the dramatic glacier melt observed in Switzerland, as one-third of glacier ice volume was lost between 2001 and 2022.

The law entails a financial commitment of two billion Swiss francs over a decade to incentivise replacing fossil fuel-based heating systems with environmentally friendly alternatives. Additionally, it encourages innovation in environmental conservation within the business sector.

Switzerland is grappling with many climate change consequences, notably the alarming glacier melt and dwindling snowfall. This decline in glacier volume, over 6% in the past year, has raised significant concerns.

Despite some experts characterising the diminishing glaciers as catastrophic, particularly in 2022, Swiss hydrologists view the situation with a nuanced perspective. They highlight the potential positive aspects of the melting ice, particularly in the drought conditions prevailing in Europe.