Where are we today?

18.12.2020 - At its meeting on 18 December 2020, the Federal Council took notice of a progress report on the implementation of the integrated risk management system for natural hazards. Major improvements in dealing with natural hazards have been achieved in the last four years, as the report shows.

NEW: Short version of the report to the Federal Council is now online!

Magazine Environment: Natural Hazards

Switzerland has learned from the natural disasters of the past and has developed an integrated risk management approach that reduces the risks to an acceptable level. Our response to natural hazards is of a high standard and is recognised internationally.

New report: Natural hazards and climate change in Switzerland - State of knowledge

The report (PDF, 2 MB, 09.06.2020) provides a overview of the most important technical studies on climate change and natural hazards in Switzerland of the last 10 years. Based on this compilation, initial recommendations for the management of gravitational natural hazards were derived.

Zusammenfassung (PDF, 762 kB, 17.08.2020)

A collective contribution to protecting the population against avalanches

As an Alpine country, Switzerland has a long tradition of avalanche protection. This tradition has recently been added to UNESCO's Intangible World Cultural Heritage List. What is the FOEN’s role in managing avalanches as a natural hazard and what does it do to help keep people safe? Vice-Director Paul Steffen has the answers.