The impact of climate change is visible in Switzerland.

Heat waves during the summer months have increased significantly in frequency and intensity. To save energy, the government banned conventional air-cooling systems. I never thought I would experience the heat in Switzerland more intensely than in South Africa.

Global warming in Switzerland is now more than double that of the average globally. The fact that there is no ocean in Switzerland is the reason for this situation. Land masses do not absorb heat as effectively as water. The oceans use the heat for evaporation. As the glaciers melt and snow covers decrease, the land masses absorb more solar heat.

The impact of climate change on winter tourism

Winter tourism is the most important source of income for large parts of Switzerland. These areas in the Swiss Alps depend on reliable snowfall. Climate change is already significantly affecting snowfall lower in the Alps.

The glaciers in the Alps have lost more than 60% of their volume since 1850. Ski resorts in Switzerland cover their glaciers with blankets to slow the melting process.

Many ski resorts produce artificial snow. During the winter of 2020-2021, artificially created snow covered 53% of the ski slopes in the Swiss Alps. They use water from nearby streams and lakes and run it through snow machines under pressure. These tiny water droplets freeze the moment they come out of the nozzles. However, artificial snow hurts water resources and costs.

In earlier years, a thick layer of ice formed on top of the lakes in winter. Lake Zurich was frozen for the last time in the winter of 1962/63 and was everyone’s playground for a while. Severe cold spells are less frequent, and frozen lakes are almost a thing of the past when it comes to the larger lakes.

Swisstainable

Voters recently voted for Switzerland to commit to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. It will require a change in habits and cooperation from everyone to achieve the goal. Individuals and businesses will need to save Energy in many possible ways.

Fortunately, Switzerland already has a very efficient public transport system. With one of the densest rail networks in the world, even the most remote places are accessible by public transport. More than 1.1 million passengers use trains, trams, or buses daily. I also decided to use the public transport system in Switzerland. I have been doing this for four years and enjoy the safety and reliability.

There is a big drive to use organic products. Compared to other countries, the Swiss use the most organic products per capita, and Swiss retailers have been at the top of international sustainability rankings for years. The country’s attitude has created a greater awareness in us, and we as a family also live much more organically since living here.

Authorities take recycling seriously

Authorities take recycling and waste management very seriously in Switzerland, and the government expects every person to cooperate. It took us a while to get on the program. We were unknowingly in trouble a few times for not following the correct procedures, but our household now has processes to ensure our cooperation.

Switzerland recycles almost 53% of all the waste it creates, one of the highest rates in Europe. Each type of waste is handled separately – from glass and PET bottles to paper and cardboard and right through to organic waste, batteries, and aluminium. The consumer must sort it at home and then hand it in free of charge to a central public waste point. This submission has now become a routine weekend activity for us.

Conversion of waste into energy

Authorities encourage users to throw as few items into garbage bags as possible and heavily tax household waste. In Switzerland, no waste is buried in landfills but converted into usable energy. Waste incineration plants convert garbage into usable energy, such as electricity and heat. The incinerators gladly accept plastic waste as plastic is a petroleum product with an energy value.

Everyone must be part of the solution

The public must be part of the solution, and various countries offer inspiring solutions. In Denmark, for example, the citizens own two-thirds of the wind farms. The ecological transition, therefore, goes hand in hand with privatising the ownership of the energy infrastructure. I hope South Africa’s current electricity crisis also forces future solutions in that direction.

Kind regards

Emsia