Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Climate demonstrators target Swiss National Bank

Bern demo
A speaker at the climate demo in Bern on Friday Keystone / Anthony Anex

Around 1,500 people gathered in the Swiss capital Bern on Friday to protest the Swiss National Bank’s investments in fossil fuels.

The demonstration was the culmination of a week of action by Rise Up for Change, a group bringing together activist groups including Climatestrike Switzerland and Extinction Rebellion.

In a statementExternal link published ahead of the Bern protest, Rise Up for Change said that the Swiss National Bank (SNB) continued to invest in oil, coal and gas, “despite scientific evidence” and accused the SNB of holding shares in companies that supported fossil fuels. The group also demanded that the SNB immediately stop “investing in projects and companies that violate human rights and destroy ecosystems”.

The morning saw a flashmob demonstrate outside the SNB offices in Bern, with a symbolic “oil pipeline” on the square in front of the parliament building. The demonstration continued into the afternoon.

Banks in the crosshairs

Last Monday, around 200 climate activists blocked entrances to big Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse in central Zurich to protest investments in fossil fuel projects. Police removed the activists, detaining 83 people. 

Acts of civil disobedience, particularly targeting banks, have become more common in Switzerland in the past few years.

More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Two men charged by the MPC with money laundering

More

Two Swiss men charged with money laundering

This content was published on One million francs, 34 million euros and around 830 kilos of gold: this is the fortune that two Swiss nationals are accused of having moved across borders for at least four years.

Read more: Two Swiss men charged with money laundering
Richemont reports lower first-half results

More

Richemont reports lower first-half results

This content was published on Geneva-based luxury goods group Richemont reported a downturn in performance for the first half of its 2024/25 financial year. Both sales and profit declined.

Read more: Richemont reports lower first-half results
Switzerland gets a new tectonic map

More

Switzerland gets a new tectonic map

This content was published on Switzerland has a new tectonic map at a scale of 1:500,000, containing updates to geometry, distribution and nomenclature of the tectonic units.

Read more: Switzerland gets a new tectonic map

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

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.

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

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