Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

What role should Switzerland play in the climate crisis?

Hosted by: Luigi Jorio

To some groups, Switzerland is too small to make a big difference in addressing the climate crisis. For others, the country is too rich to do nothing. Switzerland is only responsible for 0.1% of global carbon emissions but it has one of the highest carbon footprints per capita in the world.

What role do you think Switzerland can and should Switzerland play in limiting global warming?



Join the conversation!

Contributions must adhere to our guidelines. If you have questions or wish to suggest other ideas for debates, please, get in touch!
Francesco@magistra.org
Francesco@magistra.org
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

It is worth remembering (and almost no one knows this) that CO2 accounts for 0.04% of our atmosphere and is the essence of life on our planet. No CO2 = no vegetation. The measurement of CO2 varies greatly from morning to evening (after plants have absorbed it throughout the day), in cities or in the countryside, on the sea (the major absorber of this gas) or at the poles. If we all agree that we have to reduce waste (why change the cell phone every 2 years?) and contamination, personally this ecological campaign seems to me superficial on the one hand but equivalent to a new religion. Two years ago, we will never forget, there was the same fanaticism for a pandemic and the obligation to inject a product that today is beginning to be questioned. So let us not trust all the scientists who have already misled us so many times, albeit in good faith. One thing yes: let us order our lives, let us reduce consumption, let us recycle, but let us not make hasty and impulsive decisions. Wind and solar unfortunately, with current technologies are still not the solution. We are left with atomic and the hope that science will find a better means to give us energy.

Vale la pena ricordare (e quasi nessuno lo sa) che il CO2 rappresenta lo 0,04% della nostra atmosfera e che è l'essenza della vita sul nostro pianeta. Niente CO2 = niente vegetazione. La misurazione del CO2 varia moltissimo dalla mattina alla sera (dopo che le piante l'hanno assorbito durante tutta la giornata), in cittá o nelle campagne, sul mare (il maggior assorbente di questo gas) o ai poli. Se siamo tutti d'accordo che si deve ridurre gli sperperi (perché cambiare il cellulare ogni 2 anni?) e la contaminazione, personalmente questa campagna ecologica mi sembra superficiale da un lato ma equiparabile a una nuova religione. Due anni fa, non lo scorderemo mai, vigeva lo stesso fanatismo per una pandemia e per l'obbligo di iniettarsi un prodotto che oggi comincia ad essere messo in discussione. Non fidiamoci quindi di tutti gli scienziati che giá tante volte ci hanno tratti in inganno, seppure in buona fede. Una cosa sí: ordiniamo le nostre vite, riduciamo i consumi, ricicliamo, ma non prendiamo decisioni affrettate e d'impulso. L'eolico e il solare purtroppo, con le tecnologie attuali non sono ancora la soluzione. Non ci resta che l'atomico e la speranza che la scienza trovi un mezzo migliore per darci l'energia.

曠野洋一
曠野洋一
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

Shut down nuclear power generation.
Since we have hydroelectric power, we can make hydrogen from that water and use it to generate hydrogen power and fuel cells.
Building small hydrogen generation facilities would prevent power outages in the event of a disaster.
Even though the cost would be higher, the risk would be reduced and the burden on nature would be lessened.
I would like to see strong pressure on countries like Japan, where everything around us is the sea.
Making hydrogen from seawater would solve the energy problem.

原子力発電を停止する。
水力発電ができているのだから、その水から水素を作り、水素発電や燃料電池にする。
小さな水素発電の施設を造れば災害の時にも停電が防げる。
コストが高くなってもリスクは減り、自然の負担も減る。
日本のように、周りがすべて海の国へ強く圧力をかけてほしい。
海水から水素を作れば、エネルギーの問題も解決する。

Sichelgaita
Sichelgaita
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

In my opinion Switzerland has always meant the Alps. They may be "small" in size in square kilometers but their glaciers are essential to the continent as well as to Switzerland. So it is not a question of money or size. You are there in the middle, you have no other territory and I think you have the right and the duty to make your voice heard far beyond the political or economic weight of the confederation. After all, Italy should do the same for the Mediterranean (as well as for the Alps).

Secondo me Svizzera da sempre vuol dire Alpi. Saranno anche "piccole" come estensione in kmq ma i loro ghiacciai sono essenziali per il continente oltre che per la Svizzera. Quindi non è una questione di soldi o di dimensioni. Voi siete lì in mezzo, non avete altro territorio e credo che abbiate il diritto e il dovere di farvi sentire ben oltre il peso politico o economico della confederazione. Del resto lo stesso dovrebbe fare l'Italia per il Mediterraneo (oltre che per le Alpi)

methownet.com
methownet.com

Lead, because you're in the international spotlights, at the cross roads of the world !
Switzerland has all the power sources that the whole world is struggling with.

Ass
Ass
The following contribution has been automatically translated from AR.

Global warming and climate change have become a reality that no one can change as long as all countries need energy, laboratories and industries. But there is a lasting solution. It is possible for the European Union to create a large association funded by all EU countries. This staff is experts and engineers in all jurisdictions. On pollution, finding solutions for factories and finding a solution, not factory stacks and other radioactive materials, anything that pollutes the environment. These experts start me to visit a country and develop plans for a clean environment for future generations. This provides everything that works without use. It is an agreement to eliminate all pollution. Which causes diseases.. and thank you

أن الاحتباس الحراري وتغير المناخ شيئ أصبح وارد واقع لا احد يستطيع تغيره طالما تحتاج كل الدول إلى الطاقة والمعامل والصناعات ولكن هناك حل دائم ممكن أن يوجد الاتحاد الاوربي جمعية كبيرة ممولة من جميع دول الاتحاد ويكون هذا الكادر من خبراء ومهندسين في جميع الاختصاصات للقضاء على التلوث أجاد الحلول من أجل المصانع وإيجاد حل لا مداخن المصانع وغيره من المواد المشعة واي شئي يلوث البيئة ويبدء هؤلاء الخبراء بي زيارة بلد بلد ووضع خطط من أجل بيئة نضيفة من أجل الأجيال القادمة هذا يوفر كل شئ يعمل من غير فائدة أنه اتفاق من أجل القضاء على جميع التلوث الذي يسبب الأمراض ..وشكرا

giaronca
giaronca
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

Good morning everyone,
My name is Gianni, I follow in Italy the commercial development of machines for waste management, I see your country as an example in the management of waste both for the structure and the goodwill and commitment of your citizens.
Surely you have to buy a lot from abroad and consequently increase your footprint, but in my opinion one of the problems is that a lot of waste is not recyclable and because there are too many different packaging materials and for this very nature difficult to select.
In Italy laws have been passed that allow the direct sale of properly selected waste so as to transform a cost into revenue.
The solutions are there, or at least I personally sell them, but it would be necessary to standardize the production of packaging so as to allow a subsequent recycling with a gain, at this point in your case the negative footprint would become positive and also with an economic profit.
I hope that this writing of mine can be the starting point for a constructive discussion.
Gianni

Buongiorno a Tutti,
mi chiamo Gianni, seguo in italia lo sviluppo commerciale di macchine per la gestione dei rifiuti, vedo la vostra Nazione come un esempio nella gestione dei rifiuti sia per la struttura che per la buona volontà e impegno dei Vostri cittadini.
Sicuramente Voi dovete acquistare molto dal estero e di conseguenza aumentate la vostra impronta, ma secondo me uno dei problemi e che molti rifiuti non sono riciclabili e perché ci sono troppi materiali di imballaggio diversi e proprio per questa loro natura difficilmente selezionabili.
In Italia sono state varate leggi che permettono la vendita diretta di rifiuti adeguatamente selezionati cosi da trasformare un costo in ricavo.
Le soluzioni ci sono o almeno io personalmente le vendo, ma bisognerebbe standardizzare la produzione degli imballi cosi da permetterne un successivo riciclo anche con un guadagno, a questo punto nel vostro caso l'impronta da negativa diverrebbe positiva e pure con un utile economico.
spero che questo mio scritto possa essere di spunto per una discussione costruttiva.
Gianni

Luigi Jorio
Luigi Jorio SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.
@giaronca

Good morning Gianni, thank you for your contribution. Switzerland is indeed among the leading countries in recycling, although (much) more can be done. Reading your comment on packaging reminded me of an innovation at the Swiss Materials Science Laboratory, which is researching a new biodegradable food film. A topic I intend to explore further in the near future. On the subject of waste, I invite you to discover the "[url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/termovalorizzatore-rifiuti-co2-idrogeno-svizzera/45915440]vision[/url]" of an incinerator operator in Switzerland, who intends to turn his plant into one "with a positive impact on the environment."

Buongiorno Gianni grazie per il suo contributo. La Svizzera è in effetti tra i Paesi leader in materia di riciclaggio, anche se si può fare (molto) di più. Leggendo il suo commento sugli imballaggi mi è venuta in mente un'innovazione del Laboratorio svizzero di scienza dei materiali, che sta eseguendo ricerche su una nuova pellicola alimentare biodegradabile. Un tema che intendo approfondire prossimamente. Per quanto concerne i rifiuti la invito a scoprire la "[url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/termovalorizzatore-rifiuti-co2-idrogeno-svizzera/45915440]visione[/url]" di un gestore di un inceneritore in Svizzera, che intende trasformare il suo stabilimento in un impianto "con un impatto positivo sull'ambiente".

ليلي
ليلي
The following contribution has been automatically translated from AR.

Switzerland can rely on its country's food on biological farming and help other countries develop this sector to produce in a clean and fair world without fertilizers and pollutants

يمكن ان تعتمد سويسرا في غذاء بلدها على الفلاحة البيولوجية وتساعد بقية البلدان في تطوير ها القطاع لننتج في عالم نظيف وعادل وبدون اسمدة وملوثات

ليلي
ليلي
The following contribution has been automatically translated from AR.

It is true that the country of Switzerland is a small but large country in its contributions with different countries. We want Switzerland to contribute to preserving local seeds for all countries in order to ensure seeds capable of the world with climate changes.

صحيح ان بلد سويسرا بلد صغير ولكنه كبير في مساهماته مع مختلف البلدان نحن نرغب من سويسرا أن تساهم في المحافظة على البذور المحلية لكل الدول حتى نضمن بذورا قادرة على العالم مع التغييرات المناخية.

Antennone
Antennone

Switzerland has few unique features that call for a role in fighting global warming: for example, best in class research and development, capital availability and advanced governance.
Switzerland should , then, encourage or even mandate advanced technologies so that these can be scaled and optimized...In other words, work as a pilot facility for the world. The so proven technologies then can be rolled out to bigger countries so that cost decreases further.

Luigi Jorio
Luigi Jorio SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Antennone

Hi Antennone thank you for your contribution. I also think that Switzerland has the means to show the way towards a cleaner and a more sustainable future. This year, we want to focus more on Swiss solutions and innovations that can contribute to the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.

fausto@maspero-srl.it
fausto@maspero-srl.it
@Antennone

Personalmente vedo presentarsi sempre un problema grande e insormontabile, nazioni come la Cina non accetteranno mai i vostri consigli e le vostre tecnologie, a loro interessa solo produrre a basso costo.

Astrostrom
Astrostrom

Switzerland could become an Astrostrom start-up nation to solve its own Energy Dilemma and contribute to effective climate change mitigation.

Astrostrom = inexhaustible clean and green energy from space.

Giannis Mavris
Giannis Mavris SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Astrostrom

Interessant! Wie stellen Sie sich das vor?

KnightRider1223
KnightRider1223
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Carbon offsets are nothing but a scam - it doesn't protect the planet. It's more like a green mafia and a scam for the rich. That's why Simonetta Sommaruga is signing it.

Les compensations carbone ne sont rien d'autre que l'arnaque - ça ne protège pas la planète. C'est plutôt une mafia verte et une escroquerie pour les riches. Voilà pourquoi c'est Simonetta Sommaruga qui le signe.

Anonymous
Anonymous
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ZH.

New York Times sued for discrimination in favor of young white employees
AFP and the BBC report that the complaint, which seeks to be filed as a class action, was filed on behalf of two women, aged 61 and 62, respectively. They allege that Newseum discriminated against "older, African-American and/or female employees" in terms of pay, assignments and promotion policies. The plaintiffs' attorney issued a statement saying, "It is astonishing that a news organization that has long promoted a liberal society's views has a double standard that blatantly discriminates and retaliates against employees who are serious about their work and dedication." The complaint states that some employees are "victims of discriminatory barriers" compared to "younger, white employees. The lawsuit names Mark Thompson, formerly the executive of the BBC's New YorkTimes, and Meredith Levien, New YorkTimes' chief of revenue. The lawsuit states that Lavin was the only woman on the company's management board and that "the lack of female leadership contributed to a climate of deepening gender roles, stereotypes and bias, where women with loud voices were identified as 'aggressive' and 'difficult ' rather than 'ambitious', 'bold' or 'driven'." A Newseum spokesman said it was a "repeated denigration and unfair attack on Thompson and Lavin" that "completely distorts" the "reality of Newseum's work environment."

纽约时报被告歧视 偏好白人年轻员工
法新社与英国广播公司(BBC)报导,这宗寻求以集体诉讼方式提出的告诉,是代表分别为61与62岁的两名女性提出。她们指控纽时无论在薪资、任务分派和升迁政策方面,都歧视“较年长、非裔和/或女性员工”。原告律师发出声明说:“一个长期推广自由社会观点的新闻机构却有双重标准,公然歧视和报复认真工作与奉献心力的员工,真让人惊讶。”控告书指出,部分员工和“较年轻的白人员工”相较,是“歧视性障碍的受害者。诉讼点名曾任职英国广播公司的纽时(New YorkTimes)执行长汤普森(Mark Thompson),以及纽时营收长拉文(Meredith Levien)。诉讼书指出,拉文是该公司管理委员会唯一女性,“缺乏女性领导助长了性别角色、刻板印象与偏见加深的气氛,女性声音大,就会被认定是‘咄咄逼人’、‘难搞’,而不是‘有雄心’、‘果敢’或‘有冲劲’。” 纽时发言人表示,这是“对汤普森和拉文一而再再而三的诋毁和不公道的攻击”,“完全扭曲”纽时“工作环境的真实情况”。

Anonymous
Anonymous
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Switzerland is a small, forward-thinking country in many areas and could be even more so by showing the world how to use the reverse of life.

-less electricity consumption
-less water consumption and prohibit its sale
- less land use for construction
- etc., etc.

La Suisse est un petit pays avant-gardist dans beaucoup de domaine et pourrait l'être encore davantage en montrant au monde comment utiliser la marche arrière de la vie.

-moins de consommation d'électricité
-moins de consommation d'eau et en interdire la vente
- moins d'utilisation du sol pour la construction
- etc.,etc.

PASSERBY2
PASSERBY2

Switzerland should more offset its own carbon production abroad. In Switzerland, people already recycle lots of materials, but in many foreign countries, there are literally heaps of discarded goods or islands made of plastic bottles in rivers. It is right to spend money where every Swiss Franc can do most benefit for the environment.

teresariccio
teresariccio
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

Good evening, I think for the environment nothing will be done. China, India, USA, etc.... will not go back.

Buonasera, credo che per l ambiente sarà fatto niente. La Cina, l India, USA, etc.... non torneranno indietro.

HAT
HAT

Looking at the current Covid situation and Vaccination status (apologies for bringing this up again), we can conclude that many societies (especially Swiss society) are not homogenious and we are not obedient and we have too many differing opinions about the same topic across the country.

If we cannot even agree on a single way forward to combat a real virus threat, with real deaths in the hospitals, what else can we achieve as a nation?

So, there is little or nothing that can be achieved as a country for any topic, let alone climate change.

I suspect, only countries like China, Singapore, Taiwan or Japan, will be able to unite for climate change or any change because they have high respect and obedience to their authorities and they are united in many ways.

Unfortunately, Switzerland is not like that. We take 10 years to decide whether to renovate a bridge or build a new road and then another 10 years to build it.

Anona
Anona
@HAT

The same problem we had before allowing women to vote. Human specie exists thanks to diversity. The my way or the high way strategy does not work and will never work. It is against human nature.

HAT
HAT
@Anona

Unity works well especially in times of crisis (and harm). The disruptors (those who vote against anything) are best left alone to die alone (with their brand of freedom and disruptions).
I am so sick of all the anti-vaxxers who oppose just because there is a silent majority on making united front against a deadly disease. The anti-vaxxers come up with all sorts of irrational excuses just to "speak their truths". They are not interested in public health. They are only concerned for their "freedoms".

Lynx
Lynx

So many countries have made commitments to do something by 2030, 2070, etc. But none have said they will do something now. They are kicking the can down the road for their children or grandchildren to deal with. The clock is one minute to midnight, says Boris. He's usually wrong. It's probably 15 seconds to midnight. I'd love one country to say, we are doing this NOW. Maybe Switzerland can lead the way and be the first to do this.

Luigi Jorio
Luigi Jorio SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Lynx

Salve Lynx grazie per il suo contributo. Anche io spero che la Svizzera possa dare l'esempio. D'altronde, se non lo fa uno dei Paesi più ricchi e innovativi del mondo, chi lo dovrebbe fare?

HAT
HAT
@Luigi Jorio

Unfortunately many people still equate financial wealth with empathy and love for others. Switzerland is one of the best examples. We love ourselves but not the whole planet.

René_Arnaldo_Torres_Torres
René_Arnaldo_Torres_Torres

Your capacity is humongous beyond what the US can do perhaps on the food and resources. You host Nestle you can assess the mega corporate to do right with water plus the other resources they are harvesting and to redistribute at the best bet not along the most need. The 2022 challenge is one distribution and you nation has a large role. There is no time to fight over who did what? This a call of action people will starve even on the developed territories there is no time to be greedy or argue. Your aquifers mean a lot to the world, you aren’t small you are sovereign nation. Your point is as strong as any other sovereign territory. Even the British Antilles voice and point is as valuable as yours yet they will starve on the dry spring that is coming ahead. Blessings to you and your nation. I invite to take role and lead on the policing and division of food resources for 2022. You have a chance with your parliament one that not many other nations will have.

RheintalBiker
RheintalBiker

As far as I can see Switzerland does plenty already. If the country really wants to do more then it should help fund initiatives in countries that don’t have the financial resources to do so themselves. However, this should not be financed by any additional taxation.

HAT
HAT
@RheintalBiker

Dear Rheintalbiker, where do you think money from government comes from? Donations? Business?

The answer is TAX.

You cannot have the cake and eat it too.

Wingnut
Wingnut

Why does Switzerland so environmentally conscious and why do we care? Because we are rich, that is why. The best (and only) way to make a significant impact on climate is after you are rich as a nation. Then people have the time and resources to apply to the problem. The best way to do nothing about the climate is to divert massive resources in a signal of your virtue. Especially when that virtue signaling does nothing but enrich the tip 0.1%.
The youth in rich western countries remind me of my favorite P.J.O'Rourke quote: "Everybody wants to save the world but no one wants to help Mom do the dishes." Grow up, get smart, invent something and until then, don't bother me. I'm busy.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR