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Credit Suisse accused of spying on Greenpeace

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According to SonntagsZeitung, the bank Credit Suisse has been spying on Greenpeace.

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Nearly three years ago, the environmental organisation thwarted security and disrupted the bank’s general assembly with a stunt aimed at shaming Credit Suisse for financing Energy Transfer, a company involved in the construction of the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline running through reserves in the US state of Dakota. Greenpeace said the environmental risks were too high. Pipeline supporters claimed it would reduce emissions by taking oil trucks off the roads.

After this, Credit Suisse chief of staff Pierre-Olivier Bouée ordered the surveillance of former Greenpeace management board members Peter Goerke and Iqbal Khan and had the company spied on, according to SonntagsZeitung as reported by RTS.

SonntagsZeitung claims Credit Suisse had access to internal Greenpeace mails, which gave it advanced warning of protests. In addition, it appears the bank erected fake construction barriers outside certain buildings to help keep protestors at a distance.

When asked for comment a Credit Suisse spokesman said: “We do not comment on security issues.”

Tidjane Thiam, the bank’s CEO since 2105, was not personally involved in the organization of the general assembly or the surveillance, according to the bank.

Greenpeace itself had not noticed the infiltration and is now looking at the leak. 

On 7 February 2020, CEO Tidjane Thiam resigned, although he denied knowledge of the operations.

Speaking to RTS, bank President Urs Rohner said that at some point we realised that we couldn’t get out of this situation unless we made a change and Tidjane Thiam understood that too, he said.

Thiam will leave on 14 February 2020 to be replaced by Thomas Gottstein, the head of the bank’s Swiss business.

More on this:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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Top 10 environmental concerns in Switzerland

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Recently published data show the top ten environmental concerns among Switzerland’s residents.

Top 10 environmental concerns in Switzerland
© Iurii Golub | Dreamstime.com

In 2019, top of the list was pesticide use. 89.4% considered this very (52.9%) or fairly (36.5%) dangerous.

Next was loss of animal and plant diversity. 88.2% considered this very (53.8%) or fairly (34.4%) dangerous.

Third was climate change. 87.8% considered this very (50.9%) or fairly (36.9%) dangerous.

The survey was conducted in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Since 2011, concern (based on those saying they considered something to be very or fairly dangerous) has risen for mobile phone antenna (+8.7 percentage points), climate change (+8.4), loss of biodiversity (+7.3), genetic research and medicine (+6.1), construction and infrastructure (+4.4), genetically modified food (+4.0) and traffic (+2.5).

Pesticide use was only added in 2019 and shot to the top to become the most popular concern – 52.9% think this is very dangerous and 36.5% think it is fairly dangerous.

The only concern to fall between 2011 and 2019 was nuclear power stations. Concern around this fell 6.9 percentage points from 80.8% to 73.9%.

More on this:
Federal Statistical Office data (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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5G protests continue in Switzerland, following inconclusive report

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On 25 January 2020, further protests against the roll of 5G mobile technology took place in 16 towns across Switzerland, according to protest organisers.

Source: Facebook Verein «Schutz vor Strahlung»

The protests follow the publishing of an inconclusive Swiss report by experts on the health risks of the radiation emitted by the technology published on 28 November 2019.

Some hoped the much-awaited report would provide greater clarity on the health risks of the technology, however it contained no new findings. The authors recommended more research on possible health risks and more information for the public. Protestors who argue for a precautionary approach have taken this to mean the rollout should be halted until we know more.

The ball is now back in the government’s court. Some Swiss cantons, such as Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura have already stopped issuing permits to erect new 5G masts.

In addition to protesting, anti-5G groups have launched a referendum aimed at placing limits on the radiation from the technology.

There are two kinds of electromagnetic radiation: ionising and non-ionising. Most scientists agree that high frequency ionising radiation, which includes ultraviolet rays, x-rays and gamma rays, can be harmful in high doses and cause cellular damage including cancer. However, the risks posed by non-ionising radiation, which include radio frequency, mobile spectrum and microwave radiation, are less known to the public and more controversial among scientists.

Many scientists say there is no convincing evidence that the non-ionising frequencies used for mobile phone networks cause cellular damage. They argue this radiation lacks sufficient energy to break DNA. However, others argue that non-ionising radiation, like ionising radiation, can also cause cellular damage and other disorders.

A recently published survey shows that around 60% of Switzerland’s population considers mobile phone antenna to be either fairly (42%) or very dangerous (18%) for humans and the environment.

However, as Urs Schaeppi of Swisscom points out “People are railing against the mobile phone masts, but at the same time are using the infrastructure more than ever”.

More on this:
Anti-5G protests (in English)

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Heavy snow falls in Swiss resorts

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This week, Switzerland’s mountain resorts are experiencing heavy snowfall.

Heavy snow falls in Swiss resorts
Depth of new snow in 24 hours to midday 29 Jan 2020 – source: Meteo Swiss

By Wednesday evening between 20 and 50 centimetres of fresh snow will have fallen at altitudes above 1,000m, reaching a depth of 70 centimetres in some places, according to Meteo Swiss.

The snow line will be between 600 and 900m, according to the weather service.

The snow line has risen dramatically over the years. Some low lying areas of Switzerland have not seen any snow so far this winter. This winter, the city of Neuchâtel has already broken its record for the latest snowfall. Until today the record was 28 January 1990, according to Meteo Swiss.

Avalanche risk is high. At Verbier, two avalanches involving three people were reported on Thursday morning. All three survived after managing to dig themselves out, according to Le Nouvelliste.

More on this:
Meteo Swiss press release (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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Landmark judgment in favour of climate activists in Switzerland

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In 2018, 12 climate activists entered a branch of the bank Credit Suisse in Lausanne, Switzerland and started playing tennis.

Landmark judgment in favour of climate activists in Switzerland
Source: Facebook – Extinction Rebellion Lausanne

Their prank aimed to draw attention to the bank’s investments in companies involved in the fossil fuel industry. Tennis alluded to the marketing work Roger Federer has done for the bank.

The bank called the police and the 12 activists were taken away.

Following the incident, Credit Suisse filed a complaint, which led to the 12 activists being charged with unlawful trespass. They were later convicted and fined CHF 21,600. The activists then appealed.

On 13 January 2020, a judge at the Tribunal de police de Lausanne, the court dealing with the appeal, overturned the original judgement, according to the broadcaster RTS.

In making the ruling the judge acknowledged unlawful trespass, but also accepted there was a lawful necessity to act.

Testimonies were heard from Jacques Dubochet, a Nobel prize winning chemist, Sonia Seneviratne, a climatologist at ETH Zurich and Jérémy Désir, a former algorithmique trading expert at the bank HSBC.

In his statement the judge said the activists’ actions were necessary and proportionate given the climatic urgency. The legality of their actions related to their non-violent nature, limited duration and low risk of escalation.

One of the lawyers defending the activists described the decision as the most important in her career.

In a press release, Credit Suisse said that it accepted the verdict and would not appeal. Tidjane Thiam, the boss of Credit Suisse, told RTS the activists could come and see him for an open discussion.

Speaking to RTS, Etienne Grisel, a constitutional legal expert at the University of Lausanne, said he does not think the ruling sets a significant legal precedent. He thinks it is a specific case involving private property, where nothing was damaged. The situation would be different if the case related to an action in a public space. And, he does not believe that the ruling sets a precedent for people to break the law on the grounds that their cause is justified. He described this line of thinking as antidemocratic. Voters, via referenda and the law making representatives they elect, create Swiss law through a democratic process.

Swiss parliamentarian and doctor of law Philippe Nantermod, told RTS that it is not the role of a court to decide whether there is a climate emergency. It is a violation of the separation of powers. The courts are not a political body.

The day after the ruling the cantonal public prosecutor said an appeal would be launched against this “surprising decision” which contains political elements and goes beyond the limits of case-law, according to the newspaper 24 Heures.

More on this:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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Switzerland moves closer to taxing flights

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A Swiss parliamentary commission, tasked with looking at the introduction of an environmental tax on flights departing from Switzerland, recently voted in favour a such a tax.

Switzerland moves closer to taxing flights
© Christian Heinz | Dreamstime.com

A majority of 17 to 8 members voted in favour of the move. The tax would range from CHF 30 to CHF 120 per passenger depending on flight distance and class. Passengers transiting through Switzerland would not pay the tax.

Those travelling in private aircraft would be charged differently. Each flight would be taxed between CHF 500 and CHF 5,000 based on the size and use of the aircraft. Training and test flights and some light aircraft would not be taxed. This proposition was supported 17 votes to 7 by the commission.

The commission also decided that 49% of the flight tax would go into a climate fund.

More on this:
Press release (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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Trump should be disinvited to Davos, says St. Gallen University economist

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Speaking to CNN Money, Markus Will, a senior economist at St. Gallen University, described Trump’s speech, in which he didn’t mention climate once, as a “contradiction to the values of Davos.”

Trump should be disinvited to Davos, says St Gallen University economist
 Â© Michael Hiatt | Dreamstime.com

“It was a nationalistic, domestic, state of the union address from Davos rather than an improving of the state of the world speech which you should do in Davos”, he said, before adding, “you should disinvite him cordially for next year. He’s an anti-Davos man, he shouldn’t be in Davos with a speech like this.”

Will was also disappointed by Greta Thunberg’s speech. It was the same as last year. The house is on fire, you should be panicking and you should do more. He described the two as antagonists going nowhere. Will said he didn’t see constructive discussion on solutions or options on what should be done. Although he did acknowledge the contribution Thunberg had made on mobilising young people.

The economist recommends an open discussion. A two hour open session with Trump and Thunberg moderated by Davos organiser Klaus Schwab would have an impact. Such a session would look at the impacts on young people and look at options like acceptable cuts to economic growth and welfare and what actions would deliver improvements.

More on this:
CNN Money interview (in English)

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Davos at 50 – hate, intolerance, vengeance and the environment

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Today, Simonetta Sommaruga, Switzerland’s president, opened this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) alongside the event’s founder, 81-year-old Klaus Schwab. This is the 50th WEF event in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos.

Davos at 50 - hate, intolerance, vengeance and the environment
© Makasanaphoto | Dreamstime.com

Ms Sommaruga said she was concerned about the state of the planet and the need to find the right balance between international politics and the environment. She also spoke of her concern about politically motivated hate, intolerance and vengeance.

Given this year’s guest list, the risk of intolerance and vengeance is high. Mr Trump, who skipped the event last year, has been an outspoken opponent of many measures aimed at cutting greenhouse emissions, while another attendee, the 17 year old environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who has sparred with Mr Trump in the past, pins much of the blame for the knotty problem of climate change on those born before she was, a divisive message.

Meanwhile, biodiversity continues to decline and global temperatures continue to rise.

Ms Sommaruga presented an extract of the documentary film ‘More than Honey’ by Swiss film director Markus Imhoof, to highlight the issue of falling biodiversity. One third of human food requires bee pollination, so the death of bees could eventually lead to significant food shortages.

At the same time the list of actions we could take to stem these trends continues to grow. Top of the list of actions to contain climate change is refrigerant management – the careful disposal of air conditioners and other cooling equipment could keep nearly 90 gigatons worth of CO2 out of the atmosphere, not far from the greenhouse effect of a decade of fossil fuel burning – based on IPCC data.

More on this:
Government press release (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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Swiss get more PET recycling points in bid to close recycling gap

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In Switzerland, 82% of PET plastic bottles are recycled, 12% less than the 94% rate for glass bottles.

Swiss get more PET recycling points in bid to close recycling gap
© Liquoricelegs | Dreamstime.com

The Swiss PET recycling association has been hard at work with municipalities, retailers, schools and transport network operators expanding the number of PET collection points in the hope of closing this gap.

In 2019, an additional 3,000 PET collection points were created and a further 1,000 are planned, according to the association.

In addition, a new less energy intensive recycling plant in Bilten (GL) opened in April 2019.

More good news is the rise in the average percentage of recycled PET in Swiss plastic bottles. This jumped from 30% to 40% during 2019. Some bottles on the market are now 100% recycled PET, known as R-PET.

The Swiss PET recycling association is supported by 98% of the companies involved in the bottled drinks industry in Switzerland, according to its website. Its committee members include: Coca-Cola, Coop, Danone-Waters (Evian), Rivella, Feldschlosschen, Nestle Waters, Migros and Volg Konsumwaren.

These companies have a clear interest in making sure the plastic trash their products create doesn’t end up in the wrong places and risk causing a public backlash.

However, championing recycling has hallmarks of the red herring fallacy, a device used in debate to shift the discussion away from the original question.

If we start with the question: how can we reduce the waste from single-use plastic-packaged drinks? The most obvious answer is to avoid buying them. This avoids not only the plastic waste, but also the pollution associated with creating, moving and recycling them.

However, the bottled water sector appears to have shifted the question to: how can we recycle better?, thus dodging an answer they don’t like, which is to stop buying their products.

So how can we reduce the waste from single-use plastic packaged drinks? One way is to keep a refillable water bottle with you. It’s cheaper, healthier and easier on the environment than buying and recycling plastic.

And, it’s surprisingly easy to get tap-water refills at many food retailers. After all, how many businesses want to lose your custom or risk becoming known on social media as environmental party poopers that won’t help you cut down on single-use plastic.

More on this:
Swiss PET recycling press release (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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Young cyclists could soon be allowed to ride on Swiss footpaths

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As part of an effort to make cycling safer for children, Switzerland’s government is planning to change the law to allow children under 12 to cycle on footpaths, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes.

© Alexlinch | Dreamstime.com.jpg

This year, The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) plans to introduce a package of measures aimed at improving traffic flow and safety. These include improving the safety of young cyclists by letting them ride on footpaths, allowing cyclists to turn right on red lights, removing the ban on cars passing on the right on motorways, and clearer rules on letting emergency vehicles through traffic.

The organisation Pedestrian Mobility Switzerland is concerned by the prospect of pedestrians sharing footpaths with children on bikes. It fears parents on bikes might join their children, increasing the risks further.

In 2018, 877 cyclists were seriously injured on Swiss roads, more than those seriously hurt in cars (797). When e-bikes were included the number of seriously injured cyclists climbed to 1,186.

In 2018, car accidents killed more people (79) than bicycle accidents (37). However, cycling was more deadly on a per-kilometre-travelled basis. In 2017, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office calculated that cyclists (e-bike and regular) were 11.3 times more likely to die from an accident than occupants of cars on a per-kilometre basis.

The challenges of accommodating cars, cyclists and pedestrians are likely to increase. FEDRO predicts the number of cyclists in Switzerland will grow by 32% by 2040 along with an 18% rise in car traffic.

Whatever happens it is probably safe to expect that nearly everyone will be unhappy at some point whether they’re walking, cycling, driving or partaking in some mixture of all three.

More on this:
20 Minutes article  (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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