Vegana brought together a wide variety of interested parties on the first weekend in September. In the Young Chamber of Commerce JCI, a UN partner organization, entrepreneurs are committed to society. The current project #nofoodwaste, for example, is about reducing food waste at larger events.

Reduce food waste

"We are already actively engaged in preventing foodwaste from occurring in the first place, if possible. The Young Chamber of Commerce has supported us in this," says Raphael Neuburger, President of the Vegan Society of Switzerland. The few foodstuffs that were left over were donated by the Young Chamber of Commerce to charitable organizations and people in need.

Vegana 2017 was able to work in close cooperation with the exhibitors and the Young Chamber of Commerce JCI Zurich and thus preventively keep foodwaste low during the days of implementation. Most of the food was produced made-to-order and where pre-produced, the expected visitor numbers were included in the expected daily sales.

200 products in front of public jury

From almost 200 products and businesses, the Vegana audience, together with all interested parties, chose their favorites online in advance. Raphael Neuburger, President of the Vegan Society of Switzerland, had advocated online voting: "This way, the consumers and connoisseurs have the final say, who also know the products best and go in and out of the establishments."

The awards have already been able to establish themselves since they were first held and the number of participating products and businesses has increased significantly: "We are proud that there were so many participants. In Switzerland, we can keep up with other countries in Europe and internationally in terms of plant-based innovation and vegan enjoyment," enthuses Neuburger.

Tesla at the Vegana chosen

Tesla's Model3 took first place in the 'Non-Food' category. Of course, there were quite a few new culinary discoveries in the 'Food' section at Vegana 2017. The awards were presented by Raphael Neuburger, President Vegan Society Switzerland. The Vegan Society Switzerland and Vegana team are already looking forward to Vegana 2018 with new products and services.

Winner category NON-FOOD:

1. Model3 from Tesla (www.tesla.com)
2. Primate Initiative by Sentience Politics (www.sentience-politics.org)
3. Cork products from All Cork (www.allcork.ch)

www.vegana.ch

Antibiotic resistance affects humans, animals, agriculture and the environment in equal measure. Numerous associations and organizations support the Awareness Week nationwide with their own activities and campaigns.

Antibiotic resistance is on the rise worldwide, increasing the risk that infectious diseases will be difficult or impossible to treat and that people or animals will die. In Switzerland, too, people and animals are infected every year by bacteria against which antibiotics are no longer effective. With the international "Antibiotics Awareness Week", the World Health Organization (WHO) wants to make a broad public aware of the problem.

Various events, publications and information events are planned. The week is coordinated by the Federal Offices of Public Health (FOPH), Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO), Agriculture (FOAG) and Environment (FOEN). Universities, experts, industry organizations, associations, research institutes, health facilities, pharmacies, consumer associations and other interested stakeholders participate with their own events and activities.

Numerous activities and campaigns, such as symposia for doctors at universities and hospitals or presentations for lay people, exhibitions and training courses at agricultural colleges and research institutes are already planned.

A public symposium organized by Public Health Switzerland in Bern will provide a broad overview of current developments in the field of antibiotic resistance, the dangers and risks, but also possible solutions. Furthermore, special conferences, specialist events and information events as well as lectures and guided tours take place.

Strategy Antibiotic Resistance (StAR)

Thanks to antibiotics - one of the most significant advances in medicine - it is possible to cure dangerous diseases such as pneumonia or blood poisoning, which were often fatal in the past. However, the excessive and sometimes improper use of antibiotics is leading to more and more bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. The consequences are dramatic and affect humans, animals, agriculture and the environment alike.

The Federal Council therefore adopted its national antibiotic resistance strategy (StAR) in 2015 to address the problem of increasing resistance in a coordinated manner. (Source: admin.ch)

In Switzerland, the national "Antibiotic Awareness Week" (November 13 - 19, 2017) will inform and discuss the topic of antibiotic resistance together with stakeholders from the fields of human medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture and the environment. Here already a general overview of worldwide measures and actions.

The insurance industry's B3i initiative is exploring ways to use shared technologies to provide faster, more convenient and safer services for customers. Insurer Allianz, like many others in the industry, is focusing on sustainability. The investment volume will now be combed strictly according to environmental criteria, according to a media release from Allianz.

Targeted blockchain technology

If blockchain technology can be used appropriately, it could considerably reduce the effort required for documentation and administration of (re)insurance contracts and accelerate information and cash flows, while at the same time improving verifiability. Allianz Switzerland relies on an independent research company to check investments for sustainability opportunities and risks, it added.

The company continues to focus on investing customers' premiums for the long term and with high returns, Allianz Switzerland announced in August 2017. However, the existing selection criteria would now be expanded to include environmental, social and ethical standards. A few weeks ago, reinsurer Swiss Re also announced that it would only invest the group's entire assets sustainably.

Decentralized insurance platform

Ehterisc, the blockchain startup specializing in building a decentralized insurance platform is entering into a close partnership with Zug-based Lakeside Partners and inacta and moving its headquarters from Germany to the so-called Crypto Valley in Zug.

Etherisc has also developed a concept for crop failure insurance for agriculture that works according to the same principles: Risk calculation, premium payment and claims processing are automated and transparent. This not only reduces operational costs.

The cooperation with the Zug-based companies opens up a wide range of growth opportunities for the startup: As an early stage investor with a focus on blockchain technologies, Lakeside Partners is the ideal partner with broad experience in the startup environment of central Switzerland.

Read more about the enormous potential of blockchain technology in insurance at this Link

Marc Münster is a geologist and environmental engineer by basic training. In his 15 years with sanu, he has trained and been involved in adult education, business management, project management and quality management. He is currently deputy director and leads one of three large business units.

Marc Münster has worked successfully in all areas of sanu ag. He has a very good network in the communities, the economy and the civil society of the German and French part of Switzerland, his educational and consulting skills are in great demand in the market.

Change of baton on the Board of Directors

The current CEO and founding director of sanu, Peter Lehmann, will hand over the operational management of sanu after 28 years at the AGM 2018. In agreement with the shareholders, the Board of Directors has decided to appoint Peter Lehmann as Chairman designate of the Board of Directors.

The mandates managed by Peter Lehmann and linked to his person will continue to be managed by him. He will also remain the contact person for the most important multi-year contracts with sanu ag for the time being.

Ernst A. Brugger will step down as Chairman of the Board of Directors of sanu ag at the Annual General Meeting in spring 2018 after six successful years as Chairman of the Board of Directors and after 12 years as Chairman of the sanu Foundation.

The Board of Directors elected Mr. Yves Leuzinger as a new member of the Board of Directors of sanu ag. Yves Leuzinger is Director of HEPIA (Haute Ecole du paysage, d'ingénierie et d'architecture) in Geneva. He has relevant educational and consulting experience in the environmental field, and through his mandates and projects is very well acquainted and networked with the fields of economy and innovation, urban planning and municipal policy.

The Board of Directors and the Executive Management are pleased with the rejuvenation and thus further development of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management and will carefully prepare the change of leadership in the coming months. This guarantees the continuation of mandates and projects with the usual high standard of quality and the continuation of the excellent relationship of trust with sanu ag's most important partners and clients.

Renewals at sanu

sanu currently has 24 employees. The sanu managers are always looking for new methods and tools to integrate sustainability into the strategy and development of companies. Of course, professionals and interested individuals are also supported by the national leading competence center for sustainability education.

In 2015, sanu ag was able to take over a large part of its environmental training thanks to the newly defined partnership with WWF Switzerland. Today, sanu ag trains around 4,000 people a year and advises around 60 business clients from the economy, administration and civil society in German-speaking Switzerland and Suisse Romande. UmweltPERSPEKTIVEN is a media partner of sanu's diverse network.

As an expression of this continuity combined with new perspectives, sanu now presents its updated 2017/18 annual program, which continues its mission with a wealth of proven, but also new, innovative educational and consulting offerings in the areas of construction, green management, tourism, sports, business and community management.

From now on, you will find sanu's entire range of products and services in an even clearer form on the restructured Platform.

Switzerland will have to adapt to global warming. Since climate measurements began in 1864, the average temperature has risen by 2 degrees Celsius. The warming is thus more than twice as strong as the global average (0.9 °C). With a global average warming of no more than 2 degrees Celsius, as envisaged by the Paris Climate Agreement, the temperature in Switzerland could rise by an additional 1 to 3 degrees Celsius by 2060.

The consequences are already noticeable: Heat islands are forming in cities, there are local water shortages, steep mountain flanks in Alpine valleys are becoming more unstable, as also shown by the recent landslide in Bondo in the Grisons.

"Switzerland must not only reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but also adapt to climate change to reduce the risks," said Marc Chardonnens, director of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, at a media conference in Bern on August 28, 2017.

Social challenges

The most important instrument in the global fight against warming is a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Paris Climate Agreement, Switzerland has committed to reducing its emissions by 50 percent from 1990 levels by 2030. "Since warming can only be limited, adaptation to the effects of climate change is becoming increasingly important," said Marc Chardonnens, director of the FOEN.

Climate change must be understood as a challenge for society as a whole.

The rise in temperature and the change in the precipitation regime affect not only the environment, but also the economy and society.The Confederation coordinates adaptation measures and provides the foundations and knowledge needed for adaptation to climate change. These come, for example, from the research program on the effects of warming on forests or from the analysis of the consequences of climate change for the water balance (CCHydro).

Regional risk studies

"Since impacts differ from region to region, the cantons, the regions and the municipalities play an important role," says Marc Chardonnens. The FOEN has therefore conducted a risk analysis with case studies in eight cantons to outline the regional impacts of climate change. The results will be presented at the end of 2017.

Under the leadership of the FOEN, the Confederation also launched a pilot program in 2013 that uses specific projects to show how Switzerland can adapt to climate change. Four of the 31 projects in the pilot program were presented to the media on August 28, 2017 in Bern, Liestal (BL) and Jussy (GE).

Deal with heat waves 

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), for example, has shown that the consequences of summer heat waves can be mitigated for sensitive population groups. Ticino and several cantons in western Switzerland developed cantonal action plans for heat waves after the summer of 2003. In cities with such cantonal action plans, heat-related mortality has since decreased. In cities without such measures, no decrease was observed.

This work has created momentum and sensitized the authorities to the need for action. Numerous cantons, regions and municipalities have drawn up their own strategies and developed adaptation measures.

These efforts must be intensified. The consequences of climate change must be taken into account in all areas - environment, economy and society. In fact, it is better to prepare today rather than retroactively repair the damage caused by climate change. All the more so because the need for adaptation and the costs will increase with the expected rise in temperature. This requires everyone to get involved - cantons, regions, cities, municipalities, businesses and the population. "The consequences of climate change affect us all. Only together can we master these new challenges," emphasized Marc Chardonnens.

More details on how Switzerland could adapt to climate change can be found on the FOEN Homepage

One should not economize on the quality of life. The city of Zurich has made some environmental progress in recent years. The consumption of fossil fuels for heating and hot water has decreased by more than 20 percent in the last 25 years. Almost 100 percent of the metals from household waste are recycled.

The city administration is also implementing important measures. One-third of the passenger cars purchased by the municipality in 2016 have a low-emission drive. In four municipal retirement centers, food waste was reduced by 724 kilograms in 2016. 175 hectares of the city's land have been designated as a nature reserve.

Are air quality successes being thwarted?

However, the environmental report also clearly shows that not all environmental goals have been achieved by a long shot. Although air pollution is tending to decrease, the limit values are still exceeded, in some cases massively, for example in the case of ozone. Nitrogen oxide pollution has also decreased only slightly in the last decade, and thus significantly less than expected.

The question here is how to deal with the high exhaust values of diesel vehicles. But Zurich is still far from the target in other areas as well: Only 14 percent of 47,565 street lights are LED lights. Greenhouse emissions are still far too high at 4.7 tons per capita per year.

Noise protection should not be underestimated

One third of the residential population lives in properties where noise limits are exceeded. Noise protection remains a central challenge With the increase in the residential population and the densification in central locations and along the main axes with good public transport connections, which makes sense in terms of spatial planning, the number of people exposed to noise is rising. With the measures that have been publicly implemented in recent years, above all speed reductions, 20,000 people can be protected from excessive noise.

Major challenge: population growth

It will not be easy to maintain or even improve the environmental quality achieved, because the growing population, increasing commuter flows and climate change increase the pressure to act. For example, more people mean more garbage and more car traffic, consequently more road noise. The growing demand for housing increases the pressure on the remaining green spaces.

The more frequent occurrence of heat waves affects quality of life and health. However, it is not only the city that is challenged, but also the canton and the federal government. The city of Zurich needs support in the form of overarching measures for transport and the rapid implementation of energy and climate policy objectives in programs and projects.

Further details on the environmental report can be found in this Link

www.stadt-zuerich.ch

Dear readers,

Before I get to the editorial change, please allow me to weave in a few thoughts: Since measurements began (1864), the average temperature in Switzerland has risen by 2 degrees Celsius, underlines the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) in a preview on "Natural Resources in Switzerland".

The consequences of global warming are becoming increasingly apparent even in our latitudes:

New kinds of insects in our cities, melting of glaciers, heat waves and dry periods as well as decreasing stability of permafrost are some signs of this development. Therefore, global guidelines, clean technologies and sustainable processes are becoming increasingly important.

Personal perspectives

As a journalist, it is important to me not only to address contemporary issues, but also to consider social and sustainable projects.

After - believe it or not - 15 issues, Karin Weinmann is saying goodbye to galledia verlag ag to devote herself to scientific disciplines. I am now the new man for environmental topics. I have been designing and producing leisure and consumer magazines for over two decades.

Previously, I worked cross-media in various publishing houses. For the past 4.5 years, I have been writing texts for galledia verlag ag as a specialist editor in the areas of security, safety, risk, information and corporate management. Now I am looking forward to producing profound issues for you at the side of an experienced specialist publisher.

Michael Merz

Editor-in-Chief Environment PERSPECTIVES

ENvIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES

Our specialist magazine for environmental management informs you about substantial developments, gives you current insights through news and specialist texts. UmweltPERSPEKTIVEN is the official organ of the Swiss Association for Environmental Technology (SVUT) as well as Öbu cooperation partner, the network for sustainable management. The trade journal is published six times a year with a circulation of 3500 copies.

The current issue (August issue) is specifically about sustainable procurement, the "Agenda 2030" and new strategic guidelines, and last but not least, resource efficiency. You can find out more about individual publications (subscription and media contacts) at this Link

https://issuu.com/umweltperspektiven/docs/up_2017_04_titelseite_p78200-1_low

The new ISO manual revolves around the topic of "water footprint". More specifically, around a larger issue. Sebastien Humbert, a co-author, points out that water footprinting is a relatively new type of assessment compared to other methods such as CO2 footprinting. - As many diverse methods as there are, there are many different results.

Nonetheless, clean water for life is one of our most precious resources. Water is essential to life and yet a good 40 percent of the world's population lacks this resource. At the same time, man is his own enemy, because more than 80 percent of the wastewater produced by society flows back into the ecosystem neither treated nor usable.

Limit water use

The complexity of water as an ephemeral resource is more complex than anticipated. Regulating water use alongside multiple sustainable development goals is a challenge. As studies by the United Nations have repeatedly shown, governments and companies are also on different stages when it comes to water allocation.

The ISO handbook addresses societal premises on how to deal with global water scarcity and how to limit water use. In any case, before taking political or corporate positions, one should be able to measure "water".

ISO 14046

ISO 14046 aims at international unity, seeking a common language - if you will - for resource managers. The ISO manual, which takes into account thousands of contributors from around 60 countries and 20 non-governmental organizations, is a reference work for understanding environmental impacts at various levels.

The new handbook "ISO 14046. Environmental Management - water footprint" also provides Swiss SMEs with practical guidance on how to manage their water consumption.

You can find out more about standards in the ISO 14000 environmental field at this Link

The bee monitoring system does nothing but "eavesdrop" on bees. However, the technology monitors - at the moment - 20,000 bees and also what they "say" to each other to check their health.

Eavesdrop on bees

Special sensors are placed on the wall of a beehive. These are equipped with microphones and accelerometers to collect details about the bees' sounds. In addition to sounds, they also measure vibration, temperature and humidity in the hive. This allows them to react immediately in case of abnormal behavior.

"To understand how bees communicate, you have to focus on pheromones or sounds. With this monitoring system, we not only collect data in real time, we can also monitor what the bees are communicating to each other. For example, information about foraging, whether they should format in the swarm or whether the queen bee is in the hive," Pooyanfar explains. For more insights, check out this Post

Seasonal use for the time being

The intelligent high-tech system will be used over the summer for the time being. However, chances are good that the technology will be established in the broad spectrum. That's because current systems provide less detailed information, but interrupt the bees' activity for about 24 hours each time the hive is opened. To enable more beekeepers to take better care of their swarms, Pooyanfar wants to manufacture the sensors himself.

Bees remain scarce

The bee population has decreased by 30 percent in the last decade, so it is important to increase understanding and knowledge regarding the honey bee. Especially because they have a great impact on the environment by pollinating crops and flowers. Many bee strains have already collapsed. New technologies like this are needed to minimize bee mortality in the long term.

www.sfu.ca

By the end of the year, Coop will gradually expand the range to other sales outlets and products. "We have been working towards this goal for a long time and now the time has finally come: we are the first retailer in Switzerland to start selling Essento insect products," says a delighted Silvio Baselgia, Head of Category Management/Sourcing Fresh Produce at Coop.

The development of insect products

"As food, insects are convincing in many respects: they have high culinary potential, their production conserves resources, and their nutritional profile is high-quality," explains Christian Bärtsch, co-founder of Essento. "As such, insects are the perfect addition to the modern menu."

Essento Insect Burgers contain mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), rice and vegetables such as carrots, celery and leeks, as well as various spices such as oregano and chili. Bought ready to eat, they are ideal for preparing burgers in a bun with lettuce, sprouts and a fine sauce. Essento Insect Balls are composed of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and chickpeas, onions, garlic and spices such as coriander and parsley.

Sustainable potential draws

The sustainable and culinary potential of insects was key to Coop's decision to support the development of Essento's food innovation. "Essento brings together the pursuit of sustainable solutions," Baselgia said. "Our collaboration has been going on for three years and we will continue to work together to establish insects as a food in Switzerland."

Sales start from August 21

Essento insect products will be available in small quantities from August 21 in seven supermarkets in Zurich (Coop Sihlcity), Basel (Coop Südpark), Bern (Coop Megastore in Wankdorf), Winterthur (Coop Stadttor), Lugano (Coop Canobbio Resega), Lausanne (Coop Grancy) and Geneva (Coop Eaux-Vives), as well as at Coop@home.

The sale is to be extended on an ongoing basis to further salesbe extended throughout Switzerland. More information can be found at this Link ("Enjoying Insights in Switzerland").

The VCS Verkehrs-Club der Schweiz is disappointed about the high CO2 emissions of new cars that miss the Paris Climate Agreement by far. According to CO2 emission regulations, since the end of 2015 newly registered passenger cars are allowed to emit a maximum of 130 g CO2/km on average. However, CO2 emissions in 2016 were actually 134 g CO2/km, just one gram less than in 2015 (135 g CO2/km).

However, the VCS update of the car environmental list also lists individual new models with relatively low CO2 emissions.

Reality much higher

In reality, however, the CO2 values are much higher. As with the highly exaggerated NOx emissions of diesel cars, which deviate massively from road reality in the test, there is also a major discrepancy in CO2 emissions: the consumption values determined on the test bench deviate greatly from real fuel consumption.

The tricks

Since laws have demanded more fuel-efficient cars, carmakers have used every means at their disposal to achieve the most favorable values possible on the test bench. Vehicle weight is optimized particularly frequently. In addition, air conditioning and lights are switched off and low rolling resistance tires are used: According to the International Council on Clean Transportation ICCT, the deviation is now around 40 percent.

The introduction of the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Pro-cedure) test procedure in September 2017 promises more realistic consumption values. This is urgently needed to ensure that the Paris climate targets do not become a distant prospect.

Low-emission vehicles

The range of vehicles with relatively low CO2 test values is broad. Among new cars, the following stand out in the small car and compact class segments: The Ford Fiesta 1.1 (101 g CO2/km), the Honda Civic 1.0i-VTEC (110 g CO2/km), the Suzuki Swift 1.0 mild hybrid (97 g CO2/km) and the VW Golf 1.0 TSI BMT DSG (107 g CO2/km). In the electric vehicle segment, the VW e-Golf stands out with a range of 300 km, and among the plug-in hybrids, the new Toyota Prius Plug-in.

You can find out more about the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Pro-cedure) test procedure at this Link and in general under www.verkehrsclub.ch

Not all freight transport is the same when it comes to energy consumption. In the investigation procedure, RACO reviewed the relative consumption values for traction current in the long-distance freight train category. In doing so, it determined that a uniform flat-rate energy approach for all freight traffic grouped in this train category has a discriminatory effect on network access.

However, as a result of the efforts made so far, the industry has already been able to implement a reduction in the relative consumption value to 0.0168 kWh/Btkm. Furthermore, the possibility of measuring the current directly from the contact wire was introduced.

Relative consumption value for long-distance freight train

RACO has therefore instructed the infrastructure managers to introduce an additional relative consumption value for the train category long-distance freight train in the 2019 service catalog. The long-distance freight train category covers in particular freight trains of accompanied and unaccompanied combined transport, long-distance freight trains, block trains and local freight trains of single wagonload traffic. RACO's order of June 8, 2017 is legally binding.

SBB's Infrastructure Division will now present initial data and an implementation proposal by September 1, 2017, in order to set a differentiated, non-discriminatory relative consumption value for the long-distance freight train category.

As a result of the efforts made so far, the industry has already been able to implement a reduction in the relative consumption value to 0.0168 kWh/Btkm. Furthermore, the possibility of measuring the current directly from the contact wire has been introduced. (Source: Railway Arbitration Commission SKE)

www.ske.admin.ch/