The goal of Swiss climate policy is clear: net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. However, it is not yet clear how to get there. It is unlikely that the target set can be achieved using existing green technologies, increased recycling and changes in society’s behaviour alone. What is needed are new green technologies that no longer emit CO₂, whether in electricity generation, the transport sector or the heating of buildings. Read more in this Flash article (available in German and French).

 ©   NCCS

Hot days and heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Switzerland. High temperatures can have a detrimental effect on human health. As part of the NCCS Impacts project «Human and Animal Health», research was carried out to investigate how rising temperatures affect health and which population groups are particularly vulnerable. The findings and outputs provide a basis for decision-making for stakeholders in the fields of health, the environment, research and politics, enabling them to better identify particularly vulnerable population groups and protect them in a targeted manner. Find out more

 ©   Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

The first conference on «transitioning away» from fossil fuels held in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 24-29 April saw 57 countries – representing one-third of the world’s economy – debate practical ways to move away from coal, oil and gas.

Against a backdrop of war, a global oil crisis and worsening extreme weather events, ministers and envoys from across the world sat side-by-side in small meeting rooms to have open and frank conversations about the barriers they face in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy. Find out more

 ©   WMO

The WMO Weather, Climate and Water Intelligence Commons (“WMO Commons”) seeks to mobilize at least 100 million US dollars over 5 years to finance global weather, climate and water monitoring, prediction, and service delivery systems. The new financing mechanism should safeguard the critical weather forecasting backbone, which underpins trillions of dollars in economic value and supports global stability. Find out more

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is looking for experts to participate in the expert review of the Second Order Draft (SOD) of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Registration is open until 26 June 2026. The expert review of the Second Order Draft will take place from 8 May to 3 July 2026. Read more here

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), is launching the first call for proposals for the SWEETER funding instrument. The theme is ‘Energy- and resource-efficient industrial processes’. The submission is possible until 30. June 2026. Read more here

The Environmental Research Prize of Fribourg University aims to promote disciplinary and interdisciplinary research in the field of environmental sciences and sustainability. The prize is awarded to young researchers whose innovative and outstanding scientific work contributes significantly to a better understanding of environmental problems and their solution. The submission for the prize 2026 is possible until 30. June 2026. Read more here

Rapid warming in Europe is reducing snow and ice cover, while dangerously high air temperatures, drought, heatwaves and record ocean temperatures are affecting regions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Europe, along with many other regions of the globe, is exposed to increasing impacts – from record heatwaves on land and at sea, to devastating wildfires, and continuing biodiversity loss – with consequences for societies and ecosystems across Europe. The report brings together the work of around 100 scientific contributors and provides a comprehensive overview of key changes in climate indicators for the world’s fastest warming continent, including cold environments, marine ecosystems and wildfire risk. Read more here

Scientifically based scenarios and models demonstrate how these emissions could evolve – and be reduced – under various social, economic and political circumstances. Exploratory socio-economic and climate policy scenarios are used to evaluate and compare potential outcomes. The future cannot be predicted with certainty, and uncertainty increases with the length of the time horizon and the complexity of the system. However, considering ‘if-then’ scenarios enables policy decisions to be better aligned with different possible futures. Read more here

This guideline provides a high-level, practice-informed resource for countries seeking to strengthen national responses to loss and damage. It synthesizes current concepts, evidence, policy debates, and emerging good practices, and offers an overarching framework to support reflection on, scoping, and refinement of national loss and damage strategies and related processes. Rather than prescribing a single blueprint or detailed step-by-step procedures, it highlights key issues, choices, and illustrative options that policymakers and practitioners can adapt to their own institutional, socio-economic, and environmental contexts. Read more here

Around the world, many countries have made reductions in methane emissions a policy priority as part of their efforts to limit near-term global warming, enhance energy security, and improve air quality. The energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy – accounts for around 40% of methane emissions from human activity and has some of the best opportunities to cut these emissions. The annually updated Global Methane Tracker provides essential data on methane emissions across the energy sector and the opportunities to bring them down. Read more here