Swiss climate change adaptation and heatwave response

Switzerland is addressing the consequences of extreme summer heat and drought through legislative debate and new adaptation strategies. The Swiss National Council has called for urgent discussions regarding the nation’s preparedness for extreme weather, specifically focusing on the resilience of forests, agricultural support, water storage, and necessary adaptations for schools, hospitals, and outdoor working conditions.

Political scrutiny has intensified, with the Green Party criticizing the administration for a perceived lack of decisive action and failure to set clear deadlines for phasing out fossil fuels. Data indicates the summer heat may have caused approximately 570 additional deaths among individuals over 65 and 40 deaths among those under 65, while the agricultural and forestry sectors faced significant impacts from water shortages.

In response, the Federal Council has allocated targeted financial aid, including 54 million Swiss francs for agriculture and 17.5 million for forestry. The government is also developing a revised climate change adaptation strategy, a national water management strategy, and an action plan for 2026–2031 to mitigate heat-related burdens.