Rösti defends climate policy as Switzerland faces heat and drought

Swiss Environment Minister Albert Rösti has defended the government’s climate policy after it approved additional measures to address heat and drought. In an interview with SRF, Rösti said the measures included more than 70 million francs for adapting forests to climate change and supporting farms.

The funding will also support efforts to combat bark beetles and safety measures allowing weakened trees to be felled, Rösti said. He rejected criticism that the government had acted too late, saying budget increases had not been possible while the Federal Council was working on a cost-cutting package. The situation now required urgent action, he said.

Asked why the government was providing more money for adaptation rather than tackling climate change at its source, Rösti pointed to the Climate and Innovation Act approved by voters in 2024. The law sets measures and a clear plan for transport, buildings and industry, he said.

Rösti has acknowledged that Switzerland is unlikely to meet its climate targets by 2030. He said he was examining how to generate more funding between 2030 and 2040 through the emissions trading system and the sale of certificates, allowing the country to introduce further measures and close a possible gap.

He said climate measures must not make the Swiss economy uncompetitive. Importing products that contain more fossil energy would not be a solution, he said, adding that fossil fuels had to be replaced.

Rösti described the fight against climate change as one of his highest priorities, giving it a score of 10 on a scale from zero to 10. He said sufficient electricity was essential because it would enable Switzerland to decarbonise.

He also said the duration of this year’s drought had surprised him most. While climate scenarios had shown that such events could occur, the prolonged dry period and the number of heatwaves were exceptional, he said.