Rösti speaks out against the resettlement of Alpine valleys
Published: Sunday, Jul 14th 2024, 00:50
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Environment Minister Albert Rösti has rejected calls for people to be relocated from Alpine valleys due to storms. He said in an interview that this would mean people losing their familiar surroundings without knowing when and where the next disaster will happen.
In a densely populated country like Switzerland, protective measures are the better solution "than forcing everyone into the cities or urban areas", said the SVP Federal Councillor in an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag, which was initially published online on Sunday.
According to the Environment Minister, there are also likely to be more deaths due to the heat in the future. Cities would have to prepare for this. "Nevertheless, we are not asking you to leave the city now," he said.
"We live with various dangers, which we have to take seriously and take preventative measures," said the head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). However, nature cannot be controlled at will.
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