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Recycling-Plastic-Economy-Fiction
Decoding

Plastic, that "so practical" solution that we must learn to do without.

What's wrong with plastic? Unfortunately, the list is long. The massive and growing use of fossil fuels and chemicals that pollute the environment and our health, the 5 to 23 million tonnes of plastic dumped in the ocean every year that suffocate ecosystems and kill 100,000 marine mammals, not to mention the 400,000 to 1 million people who, according to estimates by the association Tearfund, die every year from diseases linked to poor waste management, in particular the toxic fumes emitted when plastic waste is burned. Plastic enters the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. In this article, we explore the challenges posed by plastic pollution and the actions being taken to curb it.

List-Books-Podcasts-Videos-Climate-Crisis-Environment
Decoding

Our selection of inspiring summer content

Guided by a resolutely optimistic spirit, we believe in the power of collective action to preserve our planet. This selection of inspiring content is an invitation to be informed without constraint and to commit to the climate, because we are convinced that every step counts in building a sustainable and promising future for our world. Definitely captivating, without a hint of boredom!

Hautemer-Protection-Traité-ONU
Decoding

The ocean, the other lung of the earth that we must protect

The ocean, which covers 71% of the planet's surface, is a kind of control center that has allowed life on Earth since its origin. Since 1870, the beginning of the pre-industrial era, it has sequestered 155 billion tons of CO2. It absorbs more than 90% of the excess energy due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) of human origin and sequesters about a quarter of the CO2 emitted each year by humans. The ocean has so far helped slow the rate of climate change on the one hand, and the violence of the impacts generated by this change on the other. Without the magic of this natural mechanism we would already be overwhelmed by unbearable heat.

Cuisine-entrée-fête-menu
Mets de Mèche

A festive starter 

I made this dish for the first time 5 years ago on December 31st. The delicate, sweet flavor of the kohlrabi harmonizes perfectly with the smoked trout and seaweed. For vegetarians, it's also good without the trout.

Tarte-Blettes-Automne-Recette-Cuisine
Mets de Mèche

Swiss chard tart

I love chard, and I especially love to make people love it! Their flavor is deep, sometimes a little earthy, like beet, which is in the same family: "beet-root". As we enter the heart of autumn, the last of the summer vegetables are gone for good this time, but there's still chard to be found, and apart from on the harshest days, it can be picked all winter long.

Nestlé-Eau-Scandale
News from the front

Nestlé: yet another scandal for the food giant, which admits using banned treatments for its Henniez mineral water.

The scandal surrounding prohibited treatments for Nestlé mineral waters has spread to Switzerland with the revelation that the Henniez brand also used unauthorized depollution processes. Nestlé Waters has admitted to having resorted to illegal practices, including the use of activated carbon filters, which were abandoned at the end of 2022 under the supervision of the Swiss cantonal and federal authorities. The case, which had already affected the French brands Perrier, Contrex and Vittel, raises the question of consumer deception, as the waters claim to be mineral, i.e. without treatment or additives, in line with Swiss requirements. An investigation in France revealed that bottled water from numerous brands had been secretly purified illegally. The French Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a deception investigation against Nestlé Waters, seeking to determine whether the description "natural mineral water" is misleading, given the ban on disinfection devices for this category of water.

1.5°-Warming-AgreementParis
News from the front

The earth may already have passed the 1.5°C threshold, according to a study conducted on marine sponges.

A recent study reveals that global warming has already exceeded 1.5°C and could exceed 2°C this decade, suggesting that climate change is advancing faster than previously thought. Based on the analysis of marine sponge skeletons, which provide a 300-year temperature record, the research shows that warming began earlier than estimated by the IPCC, with an average warming of at least 1.7°C since pre-industrial times. Published in Nature Climate Change, the study questions the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C, underlining the heightened urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid even more severe climate consequences.

Industry-Oil-Regulations-Responsibility
News from the front

A landmark Oslo court ruling requires downstream emissions to be taken into account before permits are granted.

The Oslo District Court in Norway has made a landmark decision in the fight against climate change, requiring energy companies to consider the industry's total carbon footprint when awarding oil and gas licenses. The decision, which invalidated three licenses held by companies such as Equinor and Aker BP for failing to take downstream emissions into account, represents a major victory for environmental campaigners. It highlights the responsibility of companies for the emissions resulting from the combustion of their products. The need to include downstream emissions in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) could radically change the way licenses are granted, not only in Norway but potentially worldwide, by forcing governments and industries to reconsider the climate impact of fossil fuel production. This decision could inspire similar legal challenges in other countries, underlining the urgency of aligning fossil resource exploitation with global climate objectives.

Extraction-UN-Report-Consumption
News from the front

Extraction: a UN report calls for a global reduction in resource consumption to preserve the climate and biodiversity.

A groundbreaking UN report, reviewed by the Guardian, predicts a 60% increase in global extraction of raw materials by 2060, with serious repercussions for the climate and environment, exacerbated by industrialization, urbanization and population growth. Pointing out that this extraction is already a major cause of global warming, air pollution, water stress and biodiversity loss, the report stresses the need to reduce global demand for resources rather than focusing solely on increasing green production. It suggests measures such as teleworking, improved local services and low-carbon transport options as alternatives for meeting mobility needs while minimizing environmental impact. By focusing on "systemic resource efficiency", the report aims to promote equity and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, marking a holistic approach to tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution by reducing resource consumption.

All the news from the front

in full transparency

Personalities and members of the community share their views on the challenges of a more sustainable and responsible society.
Nicolas-Freudiger-ID-Geneva-Watches-Horlogerie-Luxury
They let the mèche out of the bag

Nicolas Freudiger

Nicolas is the co-founder and CEO of ID Genève, a new identity in the world of watchmaking, which strives to prove that luxury, watchmaking expertise and sustainability are not mutually exclusive concepts, but can on the contrary give rise to a new vision of watchmaking that meets the challenges of our time, provided we have the courage to question our achievements and explore new avenues, sometimes beyond the boundaries of the industry. His utopia? A world without plastic. His motto? Total transparency with maximum responsibility.

Marie-Chassot-La-Mèche
They let the mèche out of the bag

Marie Chassot

It's Marie's turn, the founder of La Mèche, to sell us her wick. In this interview she shares with us some of the vision she wanted to instill in the creation of this ecosystem intended to inform, connect and accompany the actors of change. She also shares her vision of responsibility as an individual and as a company and her vision of a society that would give itself the means to transform itself in depth to create a biocentric, regenerative and equitable world.

Motosacoche-Paul Merz-Electric Bike-Switzerland
In cahoots with

Paul Merz

Paul Merz is at the origin of the rebirth of Motosacoche, a mythical Geneva-based motorcycle brand created at the beginning of the last century. In 2021, the brand will be part of the ecological transition by offering a new sustainable and efficient mobility machine, a reissue of the revolutionary Type-A in an electric version. Paul gives us his vision of sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in general, as this is not his first adventure: a very realistic and pragmatic vision, marked by strong values and convictions. 

The big agenda

Important dates, international and local events around sustainability and impact.
All events

Green Film Festival 2024

The 2024 edition of the Green Film Festival will be held from March 2 to April 14. This is the only documentary festival in French-speaking Switzerland dedicated to ecology and the environment. Based in Le Sentier, in the canton of Vaud, it has become a not-to-be-missed event over the years, showcasing quality films from Switzerland and abroad that have engaged tens of thousands of people over the years.

ChangeNow 2024 Summit

From March 25 to 27 in Paris, the ChangeNOW summit brings together innovative solutions and the most influential players tackling our planet's biggest challenges, to take action together. ChangeNOW creates bridges and opportunities through an inspiring, action-oriented event.

Learn More

THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF IMPACT

Stay connected and collaborate with all the members, individuals and organizations, with whom you share the same values and vision, expand your network, share your point of view and experience and explore content that may be of interest to you.
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Mèche Culture

Concrete solutions that are easy to implement and often more economical to adopt more responsible practices and reduce our impact.