Recent record temperatures in Switzerland have shown clearly the effect of unexpected weather events on wildlife, the landscape and our everyday lives. Is Switzerland doing enough locally to play its part in trying to lessen the effects of climate change, and protect the environment and biodiversity on our doorstep? This week activists staged a protest in Bern calling for more protection of the Swiss environment. A group of citizens plan to launch an initiative banning fossil fuels in the coming years. And the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has had 27 groups of organisms on a ‘red’ list since 2017. Of the 10,702 species evaluated, 35% are considered endangered and a further 11% potentially. In a report, the office said this shows that efforts to date are not sufficient to preserve biodiversity in Switzerland in the long term: extinction is taking place at a local, regional and national level. But efforts are being made to work on this and change has already taken ...
