Fri, Jan 20th 2023
The women who are challenging Switzerland’s climate change policies (KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz).
A group of elderly Swiss women called the KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz (Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland) say Switzerland’s national climate policies infringe on their “right to life and health” as they are the most vulnerable population to heat waves. After their case was defeated by Switzerland’s Federal Court in 2020, the women have turned to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. The 17 judges who sit on that panel will hear the case in March and a ruling is expected later this year. If the women win the case, Switzerland would be obliged to set more ambitious climate goals, such as reducing carbon emissions from 50% to 61% by 2030. The ECHR decision will have a “profound effect on courts throughout the world as their finding will inform and influence the decision made in other judicial processes,” says Kelly Matheson, a climate litigation expert. Read more.
Most illegal immigrants arrive by train, migration experts say.
Illegal immigration into Switzerland triples
In 2022, the number of illegal immigrants entering Switzerland skyrocketed – from 19,000 in 2021 to more than 52,000. Nearly 500 people smugglers were arrested last year. Most illegal migrants cross into Switzerland via train through Austria and Italy, according to the Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection. The increase is mostly coming from Afghanistan and Morocco and most said they were traveling onto the U.K. or France. Switzerland has already begun making efforts to quell illegal immigration. Most notably, the country opened a migrant processing center in Buchs and signed a bilateral action plan with Austria. The two countries are increasing border searches, paying particular attention to train services. Read more.
Swiss hospitals are short 4,000 doctors alone.
Swiss hospitals overworked, understaffed
Swiss emergency health services are “at the point of collapse,” according to the co-President of Swiss Society of Emergency and Rescue Medicine Vincent Ribordy. Swiss hospitals are facing a shortage of nearly 15,000 skilled workers, 4,000 of which are doctor vacancies. The rate is the highest among any job sector in Switzerland. Apparently it is due to a vicious cycle: experienced staff are leaving their jobs from burnout and younger, less skilled employees take longer to complete their workload. The remaining, more experienced employees then pick up their slack; become exhausted, and then leave their jobs, as well. Some hospitals have been even forced to close their nighttime emergency services. Ribordy says hospitals must improve working conditions and patients must refrain from using hospitals unless absolutely necessary. Read more.
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