How can the urban heat island effect be counteracted? Answer: Through greening! During a pilot project in 2021, an average cooling effect of 3°C and a maximum temperature difference of up to 20°C was measured at Ansermetplatz in Bern. Simple measures such as plants, seating, and temporary greening transformed the sealed heat island into a cooler, more livable oasis. Read more here

On July 23, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague published a long-awaited advisory opinion: States have binding obligations under international law to protect the global climate. If they fail to fulfill these obligations, their behavior may in future be classified as contrary to international law. The ICJ also ruled that the right to a “clean, healthy, and sustainable” environment is a universal human right. The ICJ further emphasized that climate change poses an “existential threat of planetary proportions” that has undoubtedly been caused by human activities. This opinion is considered groundbreaking by legal and climate experts. Mehr / Plus / More

According to the European Copernicus service, June 2025 was the third warmest June in the world with an average air temperature of 16.46°C, 0.47°C above the 1991-2020 average. The temperature was 1.3°C above the pre-industrial reference period 1850-1900. In Switzerland, June 2025 was the second warmest June since measurements began in 1864, with an average monthly temperature of 16.3°C and a deviation of +3.8°C from the reference period 1991-2020. Only the June 2003 was warmer (17.3°C).  Mehr / Plus

We need to make our energy system more sustainable – but what is the best way to achieve this? In order to plan the energy supply of the future, policymakers need sound facts and figures. Science already provides reliable models for comparing the sustainability and the costs of different energy systems. Now, Empa researchers have also developed a model for calculating supply security. Weiter / Plus/  More

By the end of the century, water temperatures in Swiss rivers will rise by up to 3.5 degrees if no action to protect the climate is taken. The rivers in the Alps are particularly affected. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from Eawag and the University of Basel in a research project funded by the FOEN.  Mehr / Plus / More

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Programme has been defining Essential Climate Variable (ECV) since the late 1990s when the term was coined. Now, an updated set of ECVs has been developed and GCOS is calling for reviewers. Deadline 8. September 2025. More 

The project funding scheme enables qualified researchers to independently carry out projects on topics and research objectives of their own choosing. Individual or collaborative, disciplinary or interdisciplinary – realise your ideas with the SNSF. Deadline: 1 October 2025 Weiter / Plus / More 

The Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update is issued annually by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It provides a synthesis of the global annual to decadal predictions produced by the WMO designated Global Producing Centres and other contributing centres. More

The CO2 statistics show the development in CO2 emissions from thermal and motor fuels and so illustrate the effectiveness of climate policy measures in the energy sector. As the amount of energy required for heating is heavily dependent on weather conditions, the CO2 statistics also show the development in CO2 emissions from thermal fuels corrected for weather conditions. The CO2 statistics are updated annually in July with the data up to the previous year. Weiter / Plus / More

A large majority of Europeans continue to view climate change as a serious global threat, with 85% of citizens identifying it as a major problem. Support for EU climate policy remains strong: 81% back the EU-wide goal of climate neutrality by 2050. A growing share of Europeans (38%) also report feeling personally exposed to environmental and climate-related risks. Citizens see climate action not only as necessary but beneficial—both economically and socially. Over three quarters (77%) agree that the cost of damage caused by climate change outweighs the cost of transitioning to a climate-neutral economy, while 88% support greater investment in renewables and energy efficiency. More

This briefing published by the european environment agency is about the significant fatalities and economic losses from natural hazards between 1980 and 2023. It also examines the widening insurance protection gap, includes fresh data on six Western Balkan countries and insights to complement the relevant annual indicator. More