A closer look shows that there are serious arguments to qualify vegetarianism and environmental protection. In 2019, for example, an international group of interdisciplinary researchers published a comprehensive study in the journal "The Lancet" recommending a "Planetary Diet" that would both sustainably protect the environment and keep the 10 billion people expected to live in 2050 healthy - an unprecedented win-win situation for everyone, since meat eaters are at least not entirely among the losers:

Thus beside milk and egg also poultry as well as beef and pork are contained in it - naturally by far not in the quantity, as it became in the meantime the standard for the population of the modern industrial and service societies world-wide, but they fly evenly also not completely out. It is therefore not a purely vegetarian or even vegan diet that keeps the world in balance, but rather a mixed diet; and the fact that human health was an important objective in the calculation of this diet is by no means to be interpreted as a flaw, but rather as a boundary condition that cannot be cut out of any equation that places concern for the environment at the center.

Individual products and good arguments 

Another argument against the complete renunciation of animal products in human nutrition is presented by the biologist Florianne Koechlin: In several articles, among others for the "NZZ am Sonntag" in 2019, she has centrally argued against a moral ban on eating animals, arguing that we would thereby deal the death blow to pasture animal husbandry: Not least for our environment and the species richness, however, it is important to preserve them, because the grass-eating livestock would keep the pastures open and free and thus prevent them from becoming overgrown. Conversely, however, the farmers could not be expected to care for their animals out of pure love for nature.

If one takes this argument seriously, there are also tangible environmental reasons in favor of moderate meat consumption; again, not in the style of industrial agriculture as we are currently experiencing, but nevertheless including the possibility of, as the author puts it, "animal-friendly and ecological meat production".

Apart from such general considerations in favor of a mixed diet, more and more individual products are coming into public focus that threaten to severely restrict vegetarian eating habits, not least from an environmental point of view: for example, the CO2 balance of certain dairy products is anything but intoxicating. If one believes the corresponding lists, the consumption of butter, for example, is often ahead of the notorious beef - around 24 grams at around 13°gr CO² is the balance per kilo here.

Such considerations may tempt one to simply shift up a gear and renounce all animal products. But here, too, there are black sheep: For example, it is argued that the balance of rice is twice as bad as that of pork - among other things because large quantities of extremely climate-damaging methane escape from the flooded rice fields.

Of course, such examples are not enough to reject plant-based nutrition as such, and not all comparisons make sense: When in 2015 a study by Carnergie Mellon University (Pennsylvania, USA) concludes that lettuce releases no less than three times as much greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere on its way to the palate as pork, it is worth taking a look at the details: For example, this calculation was based on the same amount of energy of 1000 kcal that is to be obtained from these foods - but who eats the necessary amount of heads of lettuce within one meal?

To avoid these and similar misconceptions, the discussion with Rolf Hiltl will be preceded by an introductory presentation by Adrian Müller, an expert from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL). In an informative foray through the thicket of cultivation methods, sustainability labels and resource calculations, he will provide the audience and discussants with the scientific basis for the discussion. Afterwards, the guests can look forward to a tasty and sustainable aperitif with delicacies from Hiltl Catering.

To the event "Save the climate, eat tofu?" you can register here log in. 

Thu, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Paulus Akademie Event Center, Pfingstweidstrasse 28, 8005 Zurich.

(Cost: CHF 35.- incl. aperitif; reduced CHF 24.-).

At the end of June 2020, the Federal Council defined the goal of positioning Switzerland as a leading location for sustainable financial services. This declaration of intent is not enough; effective measures and an effective timetable are lacking. Moreover, the focus on voluntary measures and self-regulation has had little impact so far. "What we need is a concrete action plan with an intelligent mix of voluntary measures, self-commitments and regulations" says Vellacott, presenting the strategy for this to decision-makers today together with Andreas Staubli, CEO of PwC Switzerland. "With this quality strategy, we are showing decision-makers from Swiss politics as well as the financial industry what is needed for the Swiss financial center to actually become a leading location for sustainability," says Andreas Staubli.

The "Quality Strategy" by PwC and WWF shows decision-makers in Swiss politics and the financial sector concrete options for action. It contains more than 40 measures that are to be implemented within the next ten years. As a first step, it is essential to align the strategies of Swiss financial institutions with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. In addition, a political framework and credible standards must ensure the necessary transparency and legal certainty. Furthermore, increased efforts in the real economy are needed "so that the transition to a green and resilient Swiss financial center can succeed."

With its long tradition of sustainable finance, an innovative market, lean framework conditions and excellent universities, there is "no better place than Switzerland to set this in motion," says Andreas Staubli. And Vellacott adds, "The potential in Switzerland is immense, and the bottom line is that the economy and society benefit from an intact environment. Now is the time for politicians, financial market players and all of us to act together."

Joint strategy paper 

Currently, Swiss financial flows contribute to global warming of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. "Oil production, fracking, pipeline projects: Swiss financial institutions continue to finance, invest in and underwrite far too many activities that harm the climate and nature," says Thomas Vellacott, CEO of WWF Switzerland. "By redirecting money toward sustainable activities, they have it in their power to shape an economy that preserves, rather than threatens, our livelihoods." By 2050 at the latest, all financial flows should contribute to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity restoration. To achieve this, however, all new financial flows must be aligned with this goal as early as 2030. That leaves just ten years.

The consulting firm PwC and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have drafted a joint strategy paper. According to a Media release show how Switzerland can position itself as a leading location for sustainable financial services. So far, there has been a lack of "effective measures and an effective timetable" for this goal defined by the Federal Council at the end of June. In addition, the focus on voluntarism and self-regulation has had little effect so far.

Switzerland has great potential

"There is no better place than Switzerland to get this going," Staubli said. With more than 6200 billion Swiss francs under management in Switzerland each year, the country bears a great responsibility. In addition, Switzerland has a long tradition of sustainable finance, an innovative market, lean frameworks and excellent universities. And Vellacott adds: "The potential in Switzerland is immense, and the bottom line is that the economy and society benefit from an intact environment. Now is the time for politicians, financial market players and all of us to act together."

Swiss financial flows are still currently contributing to global warming of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. "Oil production, fracking, pipeline projects: Swiss financial institutions continue to finance, invest in and insure far too many activities that harm the climate and nature," reads the above-mentioned media release.

Download (in English): 

WWF/PwC, "Leading the way to a green and resilient economy: a Swiss-quality approach to sustainable finance", September 2020 

https://www.pwc.ch/en/insights/fs/wwf-report.html

In her new role for Societe Generale, Dorothée Chapuis is responsible for the development of all Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, a strategic axis for Private Banking and for the Societe Generale Group.

Within this framework, its role is to organize and expand the private bank's CSR strategy by coordinating initiatives and projects related to solutions with added value for clients. In particular, she will continue to expand and promote the range of sustainable and positive solutions developed for private investors. It will work closely with the Group's sustainable and positive investment experts in Switzerland and internationally.

Their role is also to contribute to the implementation of the company's engagement strategy for a more responsible private bank.

Based in Geneva, she will assume this responsibility in addition to her current positions as Marketing Director for SGPB Switzerland and Deputy Marketing Director for Private Banking in Luxembourg and Monaco. Dorothée Chapuis reports to Antoine Blouin, Head of Wealth Management Solutions for SGPB Switzerland, and Christine Puente Castan, Marketing Director for SGPB Luxembourg, Monaco and Switzerland.

Dorothée Chapuis is a graduate of the Engineering School of Mining in Saint Etienne, France. She joined the Societe Generale Group in 2001, initially in asset management, where she held successively the positions of head of performance analysis and client reporting and then portfolio manager.

www.socgen.com

The national Clean-Up Day will be held for the eighth time in 2020 and is organized by the Interessengemeinschaft saubere Umwelt (IGSU). Actions will take place in all Swiss regions. For example, the Oase youth center in Küssnacht am Rigi SZ different groups of young people will compete against each other in their clean-up campaign: They will collect litter lying around in different places and then weigh their litter bags. The three groups whose waste bags weigh the most kilos will be rewarded with vouchers. Afterwards, there will be a party at the lake with music, ice cream and drinks.

AGLILO, the Parents' Association of the Liceo High School Locarno TI, will clean up the riverbank, parks and around the school with the high school students, as in previous years. And also the association Vully aujourd′hui participates with the municipality of Praz-Vully FR will be taking part in Clean-Up Day. Streets and paths will be cleared of litter and a treasure hunt will motivate participants and raise awareness of the issue of littering. The event will be followed by a prize-giving ceremony and a small aperitif.

Littering is a nuisance, harms the environment and has a negative impact on the quality of life and the sense of security of the population. On the annual IGSU Clean-Up Day, tens of thousands of volunteers set an example against careless littering. Help bring this commitment to further attention and thus give this prevention campaign even more weight. Contact the local organizers or the IGSU, visit the actions and report about them - for a clean Switzerland.  

Enclosed you will find a list of the campaigns (sorted by canton) with corresponding contact details. Campaigns by prominent personalities and politicians are marked in yellow. The list is updated continuously and will be sent to you upon request.

The SELFRAG process is based on an energy-efficient and at the same time economical comminution method. The components trapped in the slag are released precisely along the material boundaries by means of high-voltage pulses. In combination with known sorting methods, a sustainable and efficient overall system for the recovery of metals and mineral fractions is created.

At least 50 percent reduction in landfill mass
In addition to the very high metal recovery, SELFRAG's technology also impresses with a substantial reduction in landfill volume. At least half of the slag can be returned to the material cycle - a significant contribution to the circular economy. The recovered mineral components are reused as additives in the cement and construction industries. This conserves landfill sites reduces landfill costs and leads to significant CO2 savings.

Marked reduction of the CO2 footprint
The SELFRAG plants are built on site or in the immediate vicinity of the waste incineration plants. This relieves the road network. Local jobs are created and long transport routes for the slag are avoided - a further contribution to reducing the CO2 footprint.

Flexible and economically advantageous
SELFRAG finances, builds and operates plants in Switzerland. Frederic von der Weid, CEO of SELFRAG, explains: "With our solution, there is no need for costly and unnecessary construction measures, such as converting a kiln line to dry discharge or investing in our own slag processing plant. As the operator of the plants, we assume responsibility for the treatment process and guarantee compliance with all legal requirements."

www.selfrag.com

Sustainable items cost on average 75 to 85 percent more than conventional products, as Kearney investigated in the study "Why today's pricing is sabotaging sustainability". The highest markups of up to 220 percent are found in fashion, beauty and healthcare. Baby food and energy have the lowest additional costs at around 20 percent.

Overpriced prices

"Sustainable products often cost much more than consumers are willing to pay. That doesn't have to be the case," says Carsten Gerhardt, partner and sustainability expert at management consultancy Kearney. "The reason lies in conventional pricing. If brand owners and retailers were guided by the actual costs incurred and rethought their conventional pricing, they could increase their sales and score points with the competition."

Fresh foods such as organic tomatoes have a lower additional price than processed products such as organic canned tomatoes. Various studies show that these price premiums are exorbitantly higher than the premiums that customers are willing to pay. According to these studies, around 70 percent of all consumers would spend up to ten percent more for sustainable products, 15 percent even 30 percent, and the remaining 15 percent would accept even higher markups.

"We can assume that a sustainability surcharge of ten percent would be well received in the mass market," Gerhardt says. The study also shows that consumers' willingness to pay more for sustainable products has grown across all regions, income levels and categories. While 66 percent accepted a moderate surcharge in 2015, the figure is now 80 percent.

True additional costs arise in production

Gerhardt explains the exorbitantly high price premiums of sustainable products with conventional pricing by brand owners and retailers. The true additional costs for sustainability are incurred at the beginning of the value chain, especially in production. However, they account for only a small portion of the final price, often in the narrow range of ten percent. Beyond the increased production costs, there are also certification surcharges for eco-labels and volume surcharges because only smaller quantities are produced.

The costs for certifications are relatively low at around five percent of the markups. By contrast, the largest share of the required additional price, up to 80 percent for non-food products and 70 percent for food products, is accounted for by allocated overhead costs as well as branding and the relative profit margins of brand owners and wholesalers and retailers.

Consequently, the largest additional cost for sustainability comes from steps that have no or very little impact on sustainability, while the part of the value chain that has the greatest impact on the sustainability of the items, usually production, has the smallest share of the final product cost.

Gerhardt: "Brand owners as well as retailers along the value chain could calculate the surcharges for sustainable products in such a way that they would be accepted by more consumers. With a ten percent price surcharge, the additional costs for sustainable production would be covered and the final price would not multiply as it does today. This would benefit not only customers and businesses, but also the environment."

www.kearney.ch

Before Nathalie Stübi advanced at the Risk Dialog Foundation, she worked for seven years in the management of a digital startup. She expanded her social science background at the Chair of Computational Social Science at ETH and at the Climate Chair in Citizen Science at the University of Zurich. Thematically, Nathalie Stübi implements projects under the label APROPOS_:

• citizen-centered workshops on artificial intelligence
• Dialogue events on the digital democracy
• Studies on the sustainable data use
• the current awareness campaign "Swisscovid App Facts"

Nathalie Stübi takes over the position from Christoph Beuttler, who is reducing his workload for the Risk Dialog Foundation due to other commitments. With his competencies, he supported the strategic development of the Risk Dialog Foundation and opened up new fields of activity. He has also strengthened the Climate and Energy business area, and in particular the "Negative emission technologies" (NET) built for the foundation.

He will continue to work as project manager and senior expert in these topics and thus carry forward the vision of the Risk Dialogue Foundation for an open joint dialogue on the future, especially for NET in Swiss climate policy. Matthias Holenstein, as Managing Director of the Foundation, emphasizes: "With Nathalie Stübi, we have found a competent successor and a thematic complement in the field of digitalization in the management. On behalf of the Risk Dialog Foundation, I would like to thank Christoph Beuttler for his long-term commitment and his impetus - also in further joint projects".

www.risiko-dialog.ch

For the 30th time, the Swiss Solar Prize is awarded to the most energy-efficient buildings and installations as well as the most committed personalities and institutions in the solar sector. Two particularly attractive plus-energy buildings win the Norman Foster Solar Award.

The winners will only be announced on the day of the award ceremony. The media will be informed in advance with a blocking period. But this much can already be revealed: Among the awarded projects are PlusEnergieBauten that already implement the Paris Climate Agreement! You see PlusEnergieBauten worthy of imitation with very high solar electricity surpluses. These and other pioneering projects prove it: The Solar Prize winners show how the energy turnaround can be achieved at low cost! Unique in the world: For the eleventh time, the PlusEnergieBau® Solar Prize and the Norman Foster Solar Award will be presented for particularly beautiful PEBs: 2020 with a new solar world record! A PEB generates eight times more electricity than the residents actually consume.

PlusEnergieBauten®: generate more electricity than they need
In 2020, a total of 73 solar projects were submitted for the Swiss Solar Prize. More than half of the building applications are PlusEnergyBuildings (PEB). PEBs eliminate 80 percent of energy losses and the most CO2 emissions. In addition, they can produce - according to the Federal Council - 67 TWh/a of Swiss solar power, or 80 percent more CO2-free electricity than all of Switzerland's hydroelectric power at 37 TWh/a. Instead of transferring about 7 billion Fr. for fossil-nuclear energy imports abroad every year, you too commit to PEB. This will reduce emissions the most and produce domestic, CO2-free electricity.

The special solar prize from HEV Switzerland...
The special solar prize is awarded for a particularly successful and exemplary renovation of single-family homes.

Migros Bank special solar prize for low-cost PEB multi-family houses
This year, for the third time, the Migros Bank Special Solar Prize will be awarded to affordable PEB multi-family homes!

The "30th Swiss Solar Prize" will take place on October 20, 2020 (09.30-15.45). Kultur & Kongresshaus Aarau, Schlossplatz 9, 5000 Aarau
Registration: until October 5, 2020 at the latest via

www.solaragentur.ch

 The topics at the 10th Films for the Earth Festival: plastics and the fossil plastics industry. But also marine conservation. From microplastics and the secret machinations of the plastics industry, to tense chases across oceans, to the confidential conversations of the powerful behind closed doors, or the magical underwater world of South Africa: this year's festival documentaries look at pressing environmental problems from a different angle, thereby opening up new perspectives for action.

10 years of Films for the Earth

What started as a local DVD distribution campaign has grown over the years into the largest environmental film festival in Switzerland with around 17,000 visitors. On September 18 & 20, the Films for the Earth Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary and of course does what it does best: Showing smart environmental documentaries. For the first time, the festival will also take place on Sunday in Winterthur, Basel and Bern - including upcycling workshops and exciting discussions.

 The 2020 program highlights

The public screenings on Friday, September 18 will kick off with "Microplastic Madness" at 12:15 pm. In it, fifth-graders from Brooklyn take on the manufacturers of fossil plastics. In the fight against microplastics, the documentary gives the little ones the floor as well as the scepter - and shows that no one is too small to make a big difference.

At 2 p.m., the blockbuster among the environmental documentaries continues: In "Chasing the Thunder," the environmental activists of Sea Shepherd follow the heels of the internationally wanted, illegal trawl ship "Thunder. A 110-day thrill ride begins.

At 5:30 p.m., we dive into the magical underwater world of South Africa with renowned nature filmmaker Craig Forster in "My Octopus Teacher" - and meet a fascinating sea creature that turns Craig's life upside down forever.

At 7:30 p.m., the festival will open with short films by Flavia Reinhard on "Littering in Switzerland" and an interview with experts. Plastic is visible, C02 is not. Our main film "The 2

Story of Plastic" bridges the gap between plastics and the fossil plastics industry and uncovers previously unknown connections.

The festival Sunday starts on September 20, 2020 in Winterthur, Basel and Bern with "Chasing the Thunder" at 2:00 pm. This will be followed by upcycling workshops at 3:45 p.m., where visitors can get active themselves right away.

The festival closes at 5 p.m. with "The Forum." The documentary looks behind the perfectly staged spectacle of the World Economic Forum. Away from the limelight, the documentary shows up close and unadorned the people who govern countries and run companies.

The whole festival program, all locations and much more are online on our festival website. The tickets are free of charge. Tickets are available now.

 www.filmefuerdieerde.org

Covid 19 protection measures

We have planned the "Films for the Earth Festival 2020" with the greatest possible caution and in consideration of the cantonal protection regulations. Our protection concepts are listed on our festival website.

For more than two years, it has been the case that only where renewable energy is in it, renewable energy may also be on it. The revised Federal Energy Act came into force at the beginning of 2018. Since then, all electricity suppliers have had to declare in full exactly where the electricity they supply comes from. The so-called guarantees of origin fulfill precisely this function and their efficient procurement has gained central importance for all energy supply companies.

(Source: EZS)

The price monitor maps developments for guarantees of origin for solar power and hydropower from Switzerland and Europe. The following trends can be identified, for example, for HKN for Swiss hydropower: After a slight price increase in the 2nd quarter of 2020, the prices in mid-August for HKN Hydro Switzerland for the production years 2020 to 2023 were below 1.50 Swiss francs. Accordingly, with the price monitor, the historical price development can also be presented neutrally and transparently for the other HKN.

www.energiezukunftschweiz.ch

The Arval Motility Observatory study reveals the environmental awareness of Swiss fleet managers. It now shows that the environmental awareness of fleet managers has been increasing every year since 2002 (Arval Mobility Observatory).

Not all fleets are the same 

A company fleet in Switzerland comprises an average of 54 vehicles, compared with 107 in Europe. Two-thirds of Swiss companies want to implement at least one alternative drive technology in their fleet in the next three years. Positive for CNG: 12 percent of fleet managers have already integrated CNG vehicles in 2020, while 24 percent are still planning to do so.

In fact, the Swiss are leading the way in Europe in terms of mobility alternatives. Large companies in particular are reducing their fleet sizes due to new mobility solutions, declining business and staff reductions. In addition, more and more Swiss companies are integrating green drive types into their fleets. The switch is mainly for reasons such as environmental protection, cost reduction and improvement of the corporate image.

This also applies to smaller fleets: SMEs with 10 to 99 employees in Switzerland have an average of only five passenger cars, compared with 27 in Europe. Fleets in Switzerland are replaced every six years on average, compared with every five years in Europe. Swiss companies are also reducing the proportion of diesel vehicles more than the European average. In the last three years, the diesel share of fleet vehicles in Switzerland was 37 percent, compared with 49 percent in Europe.

Market not yet saturated 

The Swiss fleet market is saturated, but on the move. According to Arval (Schweiz) AG, the larger the company, the more likely it is that fleet management will be outsourced. Advice on vehicle fleets is also desired from the SME level onwards, especially with regard to cost optimization and new mobility solutions. The changeover to the WLTP test cycle has a greater impact on large companies and is mainly regulated by adjusting the energy mix in order to meet the stricter CO₂-limits and sustainability targets.