What are the consequences for Switzerland?
As it's not by the sea, Switzerland is not directy concerned by sea level rises, although it's probable that a large number of climate refugees from other European countries could move to Switzerland.
- greater heat stress in agglomerations and cities,
- increasing levels of summer drought and water shortages,
- greater risk of flooding,
- decreasing slope stability and more frequent landslides,
- rising snowline,
- impaired water, soil and air quality,
- change in habitats, species composition and landscapes,
- spread of harmful organisms, disease and alien species.
On the long term, the climate in Switerzland will evolve towards a mediterranean type climate.
The report Coup de projecteur sur le climat suisse shows that these changes will have direct impacts on society (for instance health) and on the economy (for instance tourism), and indirect effects for instance on trade with other countries or due to migrations.
The IPCC report II analyses the possible consequences for different regions: water shortages, less food crops, spread of diseases, extreme climatic events...
The Stern review published in 2006 estimates the economic impact of climate change at at least 5 to 20% of the world's GDP per year, while the cost of preventive actions is estimated at 1% of GDP per year.
Source : Swiss climate policy at a glance
