The average temperature climbed to 7.4 degrees Celsius last year from an average 5.8 degrees between 1991 and 2020, the Swiss environment ministry reported on Monday.
This resulted in glaciers losing six percent of their mass – or three cubic kilometres – which is the fastest melt recorded in one year.
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Global warming caused 60% of Swiss heat deaths in summer 2022
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Human-made global warming was responsible for around 60% of Swiss heat deaths last summer.
A string of sweltering temperatures saw a reading of 38.3 degrees in Geneva in August. Only the heatwave of 2003 saw hotter daily temperatures.
Several lakes saw water levels fall to record lows while other watercourses and springs dried up before being revived by late summer rainfall.
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Switzerland risks seeing another record glacier melt in 2023, says glaciologist
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The year 2023 looks set to be another bad one for Swiss glaciers, with snow cover around 30% below the average of the last ten years.
A total of 131 forest fires were reported, which is above the recent annual average of 109.
The months of May until September witnessed 474 heat-related deaths, which is the worst death toll since the 1,402 in 2003.
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Climate change: Swiss cities combat heat islands
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Local authorities across Switzerland are planting trees, replacing asphalt surfaces with green ones or installing misting systems.
The figures were released on the same day as the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reported concerns at high sea temperatures and the loss of Antarctic ice.
The WMO could not predict the impact of El Niño on the rising temperature patterns.
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Swiss-EU negotiations: Cassis to meet Sefcovic in Bern
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Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will meet the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic, in Bern on Wednesday.
Heavy snowfall in Switzerland causes traffic chaos and accidents
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The heavy snowfall late on Thursday and during the night into Friday led to traffic chaos and many accidents in many regions of Switzerland.
Chimpanzee behaviours passed down through generations
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Some of the complex behaviours of chimpanzees have been passed down and refined over generations. These include the combination of several tools for foraging.
More than 600,000 rounds of Swiss sniper ammunition reach Ukraine
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Sniper ammunition from Swiss P Defence reached Ukraine via a Polish company in July 2023, reported SRF Investigativ on Thursday, citing official information.
Environment minister outlines Swiss efforts to limit global warming
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Switzerland will do its part to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius, said Environment Minister Albert Rösti, who's attending COP29 in Baku.
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Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled.
Assisted suicide: Sarco inventor defends himself against killing rumours
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Sarco inventor Philip Nitschke has defended himself against rumours that one of his colleagues assisted in the suicide of a woman in Schaffhausen, northern Switzerland.
Too much attention paid to queer people, says Swiss survey
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Most Swiss are well disposed towards LGBTQ people, according to a study. However, prejudice and intolerance persist in certain sectors of society, particularly towards transgender and intersex people.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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Switzerland risks seeing another record glacier melt in 2023, says glaciologist
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The year 2023 looks set to be another bad one for Swiss glaciers, with snow cover around 30% below the average of the last ten years.
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July 2022 in Switzerland was one of the hottest since measurements began in 1864, according to the weather service of the national broadcaster.
Greenpeace warns of global warming impact in Switzerland
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The environmental organisation, Greenpeace, has warned that Switzerland is more affected by global warming than the global average.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.