Politics · Switzerland · 7 hrs ago
Swiss government faced pressure as heat and drought intensified
Switzerland endured months of heat and drought, with no rain across the country from mid-May to mid-August.
The drought and heat affected health, forests and supplies, including fuel imports and animal feed.
During a June heatwave, deaths among people over 65 were 16% above the expected level, with almost 340 additional deaths recorded.
The environment ministry began weekly coordination with cantons in June, then added an expert group from federal agencies and the army in July.
Environment minister Albert Rösti did not call a higher-level crisis body, saying existing arrangements could manage the situation.
The government also faced criticism for doing too little, while a lawmaker called for a state of emergency.
Internal documents reveal how officials handled the growing crisis, but the account does not say what steps followed the urgent request sent to agencies in August.
Swiss officials faced mounting pressure as a prolonged period of heat and drought strained government coordination and supply systems.
The federal government activated a drought task force on June 19 and added an expert group on July 16.
Environment Minister Albert Rösti did not convene a higher-level specialist group or a drought crisis staff, saying existing structures could manage the situation.
Criticism grew as farmers reported feed shortages, low Rhine water levels disrupted fuel imports and some communities imposed fire bans.
Internal documents reviewed by Watson show that federal offices were later given just over 38 hours to respond to an urgent request about heat and drought.
- Who
- The Swiss federal government, including Environment Minister Albert Rösti, faced pressure over its response to heat and drought.
- What
- Officials coordinated responses to extreme heat and drought as critics questioned whether the government was doing enough.
- When
- The events described took place from winter through August; Watson published its report on October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- A prolonged dry period and heat strained forests, water levels, agriculture and fuel imports, while the June heatwave was linked to excess deaths among people over 65.
Swiss federal government and Environment Minister Albert Rösti
Ernst Wandfluh and other critics
Crisis response
Swiss federal government and Environment Minister Albert Rösti
Rösti judged that the situation could be managed within existing structures and did not convene a higher-level specialist group or drought crisis staff.
Ernst Wandfluh and other critics
Wandfluh called for the Federal Council to declare a state of emergency.
Assessment of the threat
Swiss federal government and Environment Minister Albert Rösti
Rösti said several days at 34 or 35 degrees should not be exaggerated into a catastrophe scenario.
Ernst Wandfluh and other critics
Critics said the government was doing too little to address the consequences of heat and drought.
The federal government issued a drought warning.
The Federal Office for the Environment convened a drought task force.
An expert group from seven federal offices and the army joined the active task force.
The temperature in Basel-Binningen reached 39.7 degrees, then a record for the northern side of the Alps.
The Federal Office for the Environment sent an urgent request for information on heat and drought to federal offices.
- Urgent response deadline
- 38 hours and 11 minutes
- June heatwave
- Nearly 340 additional deaths among people over 65; mortality was 16 percent above the statistical expectation
- Expert group
- Seven federal offices and the army
- Temperature record
- 39.7 degrees in Basel-Binningen on July 30
- Rösti interview
- He said several days at 34 or 35 degrees should not be exaggerated into a catastrophe scenario.
What people are saying
If we now have a few days at 34 or 35 degrees, we should not exaggerate and immediately paint a catastrophe scenario.
Due to the short notice, unfortunately we cannot grant longer deadlines.