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Al Etihad
13-08-2025
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Geneva makes public transport temporarily free to combat pollution spike
13 Aug 2025 16:44 GENEVA (REUTERS)Public transport will be temporarily free of charge in Geneva, in a first for Switzerland, as part of a series of measures aimed at tackling a spike in pollution in the in the western French-speaking part of Switzerland, is experiencing a severe peak of ozone pollution - a harmful gas that can cause problems breathing and can trigger headaches and asthma attacks, according to the World Health city's anti-smog system showed that ozone concentrations had exceeded an environmental health safety threshold of 180 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours, according to a statement by the Canton of Tuesday, temperatures hit 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) with the government issuing heat warnings for western and southern parts of temperatures and low cloud cover mean ozone pollutants accumulate and take longer to be dispersed, the Environment Office for the Canton of Geneva told response, public transport was made free for the first time on Wednesday throughout the canton, to encourage residents and visitors to switch from their cars to buses, trams, trains and boats, in order to reduce traffic emissions."The measures taken under this emergency protocol aim to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide, notably by promoting public transport and limiting the circulation of the most polluting vehicles," the environment office will not require a ticket, and ticket checks will be suspended until the pollution improves, authorities said in a statement. Between 6am (0400 GMT) and 10pm, only lower-emitting cars are allowed to circulate within the centre of the city.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
How might the US's planned withdrawal from the WHO
Towards the end of January this year the US President signed a notice to withdraw from the World Health Whitehouse said the decision was due to the WHO's poor handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms and inability to demonstrate political independence. In the same order, the president paused the transfer of US funds, and resources to WHO. It will be a year before the order will officially take effect. The WHO has responded by saying it hopes the US will reconsider and outlining what it says is a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world's people, including Americans, by detecting and preventing disease outbreaks - often in dangerous places where others cannot go. But what are the implications for global health and the WHO's ability to track any possibly future pandemic? Kathryn speaks to Alexandra Finch, an adjunct professor at the O'Neil Institute for National and Global Health Law, which is part of Washington's Georgetown University, who says the decision has already spurred drastic cost-cutting measures at the WHO. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
