Swiss government keeps cantons in charge of heat and drought response

The Swiss Federal Council will not declare an extraordinary situation over the continuing heat and drought for now, SRF reported. It said the situation could currently be managed through ordinary structures.

The federal government is in dialogue with the cantons and other authorities to assess developments regularly. Federal Council spokeswoman Nicole Lamon said the government had discussed the effects of the extreme heat summer at its meeting before speaking to the media in Bern.

Lamon said declaring an extraordinary situation was not necessary at present. The cantons would therefore lead efforts to manage the weather-related consequences, while the federal government would support them within the framework of existing legislation.

Agriculture is particularly affected, Lamon said. The department responsible for economic affairs had already introduced several measures in recent weeks.

The Federal Council will analyse the situation again soon, Lamon said.