Thirty years ago, Switzerland felt like it was at the cutting edge of science and technology—innovative, precise, and ahead of the curve. But somewhere along the way, it got complacent. It rested on its past achievements and stopped pushing forward, especially when it came to environmental responsibility. The glaciers were already melting ffs.
In contrast, during 12 years in Oregon, I saw and felt real progress—conscious efforts to rethink energy, reduce waste, invest in green infrastructure, and build a more sustainable culture from the ground up. Things moved. People cared.
Coming back to Switzerland after that, it was striking how little had changed. The same habits, the same systems, the same quiet resistance to transformation. In many ways, it felt like the country had fallen behind—not in knowledge or resources, but in mindset. That cautious stability, once a strength, now feels like a barrier to meaningful action—especially in a world that’s already late in addressing climate change.
-Huge tax on private jet, which should go toward help toward green transition: fund R&D, electrification for Heavy industry, renewable energy production, green mobility (train,…) …
Pour accélérer ce rythme, la solution pourrait être politique. Le peuple suisse a accepté l’an dernier de soutenir financièrement la rénovation des bâtiments, grâce à l’isolation et à l’installation de pompes à chaleur. La Confédération va investir deux milliards de francs sur dix ans dès l’année prochaine.
Il s’agit là de mesures incitatives, mais certains cantons misent, eux, sur des interdictions. A Genève par exemple, à quelques rares exceptions, les propriétaires ne peuvent pas installer des chauffages fonctionnant aux énergies fossiles.
En Valais, par contre, les chaudières à combustible fossile sont toujours autorisées lors des rénovations. Toutefois, à partir du 1er janvier, le Canton posera certaines conditions, notamment sur l’isolation des bâtiments.
Si les réalités régionales varient, le défi est national. Plus de 50% des habitations suisses sont encore chauffées au mazout ou au gaz. Et devront donc, à terme, être rénovées.
‘OK, we are recycling the cardboard and the plastics, good job everyone’
“We still need to address the use of fossil fuels, and renewable power generation, though?”
‘No, we have sorted everything, it is OK’
Thirty years ago, Switzerland felt like it was at the cutting edge of science and technology—innovative, precise, and ahead of the curve. But somewhere along the way, it got complacent. It rested on its past achievements and stopped pushing forward, especially when it came to environmental responsibility. The glaciers were already melting ffs.
In contrast, during 12 years in Oregon, I saw and felt real progress—conscious efforts to rethink energy, reduce waste, invest in green infrastructure, and build a more sustainable culture from the ground up. Things moved. People cared.
Coming back to Switzerland after that, it was striking how little had changed. The same habits, the same systems, the same quiet resistance to transformation. In many ways, it felt like the country had fallen behind—not in knowledge or resources, but in mindset. That cautious stability, once a strength, now feels like a barrier to meaningful action—especially in a world that’s already late in addressing climate change.
Now the glaciers are gone
I’m curious, if you were emperor for a day, you would like to see Switzerland do?
I’d add:
-properly tax jet fuel.
-Huge tax on private jet, which should go toward help toward green transition: fund R&D, electrification for Heavy industry, renewable energy production, green mobility (train,…) …
We did that.
I’m surprised. I don’t think it is done nation-wide. In which canton is it done?
Nation wide no new oil heating allowed anymore since 2023. Old ones can still be used though.
Edit: let’s rephrase: new heating must be renewable.
I remember this news end of last year discussing that we still installed a lot of non-renewable heating:
https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/2024/article/les-suisses-se-detournent-des-pompes-a-chaleur-pour-revenir-au-mazout-et-au-gaz-28709157.html
Do you think it was a bit “mission accomplished”?
‘OK, we are recycling the cardboard and the plastics, good job everyone’
“We still need to address the use of fossil fuels, and renewable power generation, though?”
‘No, we have sorted everything, it is OK’