Environment

The expansion of hydropower generation often leads to conflicts of interest, both in Switzerland and beyond. Researchers from ETH Zurich are trying to find a basis for compromise that serves the public interest.

Heavier rain, longer droughts, melting glaciers: climate change has a dramatic impact on the global water cycle.

How we are contaminating our waters with microplastics and a multitude of chemicals.

The economy is supposed to become more sustainable and more resource-efficient. This will also increase the demands on forests - for example as a carbon storage or energy wood supplier. For this reason, four researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL have examined the possible future for forestry in the National Research Programme "Sustainable Economy" (NRP 73), which was concluded today.

Bad news for Swiss agriculture: several species of insect pests will benefit from a warmer climate. This is one of the findings of geographer Léonard Schneider, a doctoral student at the joint chair of applied climatology at the University of Neuchâtel and the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL.  His doctorate aims to model the impact of global warming in Switzerland on pests. He publicly defended his thesis on 12 May.