https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Overall, Switzerland is a very clean country, and the government wants to keep it this way by introducing a national penalty for littering. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260625/swiss-government-to-impose-new-250-franc-fines-for-littering Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:30:42 +0200 swiss-government-to-impose-new-250-franc-fines-for-littering The vast majority of Europe's beaches offer "excellent" water quality for swimming, the EU environment agency said on Tuesday ahead of the summer season, with coastal nations and inland Austria topping the list. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260616/most-beaches-in-europe-offer-excellent-water-quality-study-says Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:22:00 +0200 most-beaches-in-europe-offer-excellent-water-quality-study-says A concerning report by Switzerland's meteorological service has outlined the key climate changes the country will face if global temperatures continue rising, with heatwaves, freak weather and melting snow and ice among the likely events. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260613/intense-heat-and-drought-switzerlands-climate-future-laid-bare-in-new-report Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:21:42 +0200 intense-heat-and-drought-switzerlands-climate-future-laid-bare-in-new-report Despite a supposed 'digitalisation' strategy, Switzerland's Federal Assembly in Bern has ordered enough printer paper to build a tower eight times the size of Everest. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260610/why-has-the-swiss-parliament-just-bought-600-million-sheets-of-paper Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:15:39 +0200 why-has-the-swiss-parliament-just-bought-600-million-sheets-of-paper After standardising chargers for mobile phones, from Tuesday new computers sold in EU countries must also use the USB-C charging point, as the latest phase of EU anti-waste legislation comes into force. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260428/eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:16:33 +0200 eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers If you are like most people, you probably get rid of your broken appliances and purchase news ones. But, depending on where in Switzerland you live, there is a better way. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260311/how-you-can-get-money-in-switzerland-to-repair-your-old-appliances Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:23:04 +0100 how-you-can-get-money-in-switzerland-to-repair-your-old-appliances Environmental pollution is linked to several mental health disorders in Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned, arguing that enforcing legislation would result in Europeans being both less depressed and less anxious. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260305/pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:10:55 +0100 pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems If you live in certain parts of Switzerland, you know it’s true: the smell of cows in the winter is often overpowering. Have you ever wondered why that is so? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251024/why-does-switzerland-smell-of-cow-st-in-the-winter Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:32:59 +0200 why-does-switzerland-smell-of-cow-st-in-the-winter France and Switzerland have signed two agreements on how to manage their shared waters of Lake Geneva and the River Rhone -- an increasingly pressing issue as climate change takes its toll. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250905/france-and-switzerland-agree-on-rhone-and-lake-geneva-water-management Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:30:29 +0200 france-and-switzerland-agree-on-rhone-and-lake-geneva-water-management Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has slammed the fact that budget flights between destinations in Europe are still often significantly cheaper than travelling by train. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250822/unfair-budget-flights-in-europe-up-to-26-times-cheaper-than-train-routes Fri, 22 Aug 2025 18:32:46 +0200 unfair-budget-flights-in-europe-up-to-26-times-cheaper-than-train-routes Starting on August 13th, Geneva authorities are limiting traffic due to a dangerous combination of heatwave and pollution that impacts the air quality in the Swiss city and canton. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250813/why-are-some-vehicles-being-banned-from-driving-in-geneva Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:26:50 +0200 why-are-some-vehicles-being-banned-from-driving-in-geneva Currently, if you drop your litter in the street in Switzerland, the extent (if any) of your punishment will depend on where you live. But that could soon change as the government now wants to move to nationwide fines of CHF 300 for littering culprits. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250723/switzerland-to-introduce-nationwide-fines-on-littering Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:33:40 +0200 switzerland-to-introduce-nationwide-fines-on-littering Fines for littering in public places already exist at the cantonal and communal levels. Now the Swiss government is eyeing a national penalty instead. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250710/how-much-dropping-litter-in-switzerland-could-cost-you-in-future Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:25:29 +0200 how-much-dropping-litter-in-switzerland-could-cost-you-in-future Temperatures are rising in lakes across Switzerland, with many seeing record highs due to the recent heatwave. But whilst it might be good news for bathers, it's less favourable for the country's natural habitat. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250703/the-warming-of-switzerlands-lakes-might-be-nice-for-swimmers-but-its-bad-news Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:55:44 +0200 the-warming-of-switzerlands-lakes-might-be-nice-for-swimmers-but-its-bad-news Europe has thousands of incredible swimming spots around its beaches, lakes and rivers, but which countries have the cleanest and dirtiest waters? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250621/revealed-where-in-europe-has-the-cleanest-and-dirtiest-swimming-spots Sat, 21 Jun 2025 11:12:22 +0200 revealed-where-in-europe-has-the-cleanest-and-dirtiest-swimming-spots This year, the Swiss Federation of Family Gardens (SFGV) is celebrating the 100th anniversary of allotments, but how can residents get hold of one? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250616/can-anyone-get-an-allotment-in-switzerland Mon, 16 Jun 2025 13:57:41 +0200 can-anyone-get-an-allotment-in-switzerland After a massive glacier collapse in the canton of Valais at the end of May 2025, the Swiss government published a list of other dangers that are likely to impact Switzerland in coming decades. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250605/listed-the-major-climate-change-related-risks-facing-switzerland Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:39:10 +0200 listed-the-major-climate-change-related-risks-facing-switzerland The British government has introduced temporary restrictions on travellers from European countries from bringing meat and dairy produce – even in sandwiches – into the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250415/travellers-from-europe-banned-from-taking-meat-and-dairy-products-into-uk Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:33:18 +0200 travellers-from-europe-banned-from-taking-meat-and-dairy-products-into-uk "Alarming" levels of microplastic have been found in major rivers across Europe according to scientists in 14 studies published simultaneously Monday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250407/europes-great-rivers-hit-by-alarming-microplastic-pollution Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:53:21 +0200 europes-great-rivers-hit-by-alarming-microplastic-pollution Fish in Lake Geneva -- Western Europe's largest lake that lies between Switzerland and France -- are under threat as its waters warm and become increasingly stagnant. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250312/lake-genevas-fish-threatened-by-warming-waters-experts Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:03:41 +0100 lake-genevas-fish-threatened-by-warming-waters-experts