The climate shame of Visp (Swiss Press Text 2021, by Christoph Lenz) - Swiss Press Award
Das Magazin
Christoph Lenz
A vitamin factory belonging to the chemical company Lonza in Visp has been discharging the greenhouse-gas nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” as a waste product. The annual emissions from the Valais plant of 1800 tonnes, constitute one percent of the entire greenhouse-gas emissions for all of Switzerland. The problem was discovered during a routine inspection in 2017 and has not been rectified to this day. Nitrous oxide is not regulated under environmental law. Having been made aware of the problem by Lonza, the Federal Office for the Environment came to the conclusion that it has no legal recourse. Lonza wanted to install a catalytic converter, but did not want to pay for it; rather, the company wanted to claim for it as a greenhouse gas reduction measure. After a long back and forth, carried out away from the public gaze, and an announcement from Lonza that it is considering a move to China, the federal government gives the company (which touts sustainability as one of its core principles) emissions allowances for free. Three weeks after the publication of the investigation, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga announces that the legal loophole will be closed. The catalytic convertor is due to go into operation in 2022.
Interview with Christoph Lenz
