Management of natural hazards in Switzerland: a retrospective and outlook

Good morning, esteemed attendees

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak to you today.

As Director of the Federal Office for the Environment, I had to realise even before I took up my post that one of the most useful things you can own are - rubber boots. Especially in a country like Switzerland. Natural hazard risks and their prevention and warning are an important part of my work. Switzerland has always been subject to such events. And there have been many in my relatively short time in office: severe floods, forest fires, major avalanches und landslides. Dealing with natural hazards is therefore an ongoing task.

And it will remain a challenging one. 2024 was the hottest year since the beginning of industrialisation. For the first time, the 1.5-degree mark - the limit that should not be exceeded - has indeed been surpassed. This is according to recently published temperature data from the European climate service Copernicus. Scientists cannot yet predict with certainty what the temperature will be in the coming years. But climate researchers believe that this temperature level will become the norm in a few years' time, especially as emissions last year continued to rise compared to 2023.

Climate change is also visible and noticeable in Switzerland. And it is changing the occurrence of natural hazards. It is leading to more frequent and more intense extreme weather events. Between 1972 and 2023, floods, debris flows, landslides and avalanches caused an average of 306 million Swiss francs in damage per year in Switzerland. Floods and debris flows account for over 90 percent of the damage. Avalanches, rockfalls and landslides often cause fatalities and injuries. Winter storms and summer hailstorms also cause extensive material damage. Droughts damage agricultural crops and affect ecosystems that depend on moisture (for example, floodplains). Forests also suffer from lack of water and from forest fires increases. Switzerland's high population density and the associated high concentration of assets, particularly in urban areas, increase the extent of damage caused by natural hazards. The needs of our digitalised and highly networked and mobile society and the demands of the economy on the federal government are high.

Our goal is to make Switzerland resilient and to maintain a high level of resilience. This means not only further developing our technical systems, but also better preparing society for risks, realised according to the principles of integral risk management. Risk management is integral when all stakeholders contribute, when different types of measures are combined, and when there is a sustained commitment to safety from natural hazards. Before, during and after an event.

Speaking of events, 2005 will remain etched in the memories of many of us. Devastating floods hit large parts of Switzerland, causing billions of francs worth of damage. Six years earlier, the storm known as «Lothar» had swept across Switzerland, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. These were events "on our doorstep" that mercilessly reminded us of our vulnerability to the forces of nature.

But these events were also a wake-up call: it became clear that we cannot afford a purely reactive approach to natural hazards. We need to be more proactive and, above all, more coordinated in our response.

This insight led to the Federal Council's decision to introduce OWARNA, the Optimised Warning and Alarm Concept, an important foundation for our warning activities. OWARNA focused on the expansion and improvement of warning systems. Standards for danger levels, warning products and colour charts were developed, measuring networks were set up.

Today, our federal office issues flood and forest fire warnings. MeteoSwiss, the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology issues warnings of dangerous weather events, the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research issues avalanche warnings and the Swiss Seismological Service issues earthquake reports. All this information is available to specialists, such as local natural hazard advisors, on the Joint Information Platform for Natural Hazards (GIN). The public can access information through the federal government's Natural Hazards Portal and can obtain additional information from specialist agencies.

OWARNA has therefore done a great deal to ensure that the right information gets to the people who need it faster and in a more targeted way, be they the authorities, emergency response organisations or the public.

One of the measures taken in OWARNA was the formation of the LAINAT Steering Committee for Natural Hazard Intervention, which I will chair for the next 2 years. LAINAT has taken on a central coordinating role. It brings together the federal agencies specialising in natural hazards and ensures that interventions in crisis situations are optimally coordinated.

Coherent, interdisciplinary and efficient management is only possible if the federal, cantonal and communal authorities work closely together.

Today, in 2025, we can be proud of how far we have come. Our federal office plays a central role in dealing with natural hazards.

Our strategy for making Switzerland safer and more resilient is based on four pillars: monitoring, prevention, warning and communication.

Monitoring is the first pillar. By expanding monitoring networks and using the latest technologies - from precise water level measurements to data-based models - we can identify risks at an early stage.
Prevention, or preparation, too, is essential. Awareness campaigns and support for concrete action by all actors in the warning chain - from checking their own insurance to making their own emergency plans.
But monitoring and prevention alone are not enough. Warning products are needed that are tailored to the needs of the target groups. That is why we have developed new approaches to alert people in real time through apps, websites and social media - in clear, understandable language, supported by appropriate visuals and maps. Tomorrow's keynote speech by Prof. Georg Gartner promises to shed more light on this very relevant topic of cartography.
Communication is a key factor. Clear and timely messages are essential to gain the confidence of the population and to encourage risk-adapted behaviour. To this end, we work closely with meteorological services, research institutions, cantonal and municipal authorities and the public itself. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that information flows quickly and measures are coordinated effectively. The media act as multipliers.

The success of the Swiss multi-hazard early warning system is based on reliable data of high quality, continuous cooperation and a fundamentally service-oriented approach in service of the population.

This year we will reach two more important milestones that show we are «keeping our eye on the ball» and staying ahead of the game:

In May, a Federal Council decision to develop an early detection and warning system for drought will be implemented. Droughts have become more frequent in Switzerland in recent years. The consequences and economic damage have been severe. Drought is already classified as one of the top 10 risks in Switzerland, and with climate change, the risk of drought events will continue to increase in the future.

The new drought platform will provide comprehensive information on drought, including various indicators such as soil moisture, groundwater levels and runoff, presented in graphs and maps. In addition, and for the first time, drought forecasts will be produced, predicting developments over the coming weeks.

RIMMA provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences on topics such as the appropriate visualisation of data.

If necessary, targeted drought warnings can be issued to provide timely information to sectors such as agriculture, energy, water supply and nature conservation.

This is a crucial step away from reactive crisis management towards proactive action and coordination to build resilience to drought. The platform will enable timely planning and implementation of preventive measures and action plans, whether at the individual or community level.

Another warning product for spontaneous landslides and debris flows will be launched later this year. This new system considers specific geological and meteorological factors to identify areas at risk in a timely manner.

These new information and warning products expand the federal government's natural hazard warning portfolio and thus its range of services. They close gaps in the protection of the population and show how our federal office and its partners are tackling both familiar and new challenges.

In summary, Switzerland has undergone a paradigm shift since 2005: from reaction to preparedness and prevention, from isolated measures to integrated risk management. As a result, Switzerland is better prepared to deal with natural hazards and to minimise the impact of future events.

One key to this, as I mentioned at the outset, is continuous cooperation - between specialist departments, science, politics and the population. The structures we have created with OWARNA and LAINAT are a solid foundation. However, we must continue to evolve to meet the challenges of the future.

Let us learn from the past and face the challenges of the future together. With a clear focus on monitoring, prevention, warning and communication, we can enable people to act in a risk-appropriate manner, making society more resilient.

I invite you to join us on this journey. The future may be uncertain, but it can be shaped.

I hope that RIMMA2025 will give you many ideas on how to do that.

Thank you for your attention.