Swiss Green Party wants road fund to finance heatwave relief

Swiss cities and cantons should have access to National Roads Fund cash to help combat heat waves, the Green Party has suggested. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Traffic is the biggest driver of global warming in Switzerland, said Green parliamentary group leader Aline Trede. The National Road Fund should therefore pay for climate change-related heat problems. + Why older women are hit hardest by deadly heatwaves The Greens argue that heat is increasingly becoming a health problem in cities, especially for older people. Sunshades and water sprinklers are not enough, said Anina Ineichen, a member of the Basel City Green Party council; more green spaces and large, shady and cooling trees are needed. The Greens also want to extend short-time working compensation to cover companies that are unable to work due to unbearable heat or storm damage. This would mitigate the danger of workers being made redundant. Other points include cross-departmental climate ...