2 March 2026 Award for research that can’t be pigeonholed into a single discipline Do sustainability standards also account for the effects of land use that extend beyond their immediate sphere of action? CDE scientist Gabi Sonderegger explored this question and provides the first systematic analysis of the issue. For this, she received the Bernese Award for Environmental Research. Read more
20 January 2026 “Public authorities should openly acknowledge that they can’t ensure that pesticides are safe” In Europe certain hazardous substances obtain approval before later being withdrawn over safety concerns. The EU will restrict imports of products containing residues of pesticides banned within its borders. But it continues to export such substances. Irene Musselli sees clear human rights deficits in these areas. Read the interview
8 January 2026 An independent “green economy” pathway in Africa Africa imports many processed wood products – even though it exports huge quantities of wood. This leads to massive trade deficits. In a joint research project led by CDE and the African Forest Forum, a panel of experts met to explore ways of strengthening the intra-African timber trade while promoting legal, sustainable forest management. Read the story
15 December 2025 “We need stronger international cooperation, not less” The 7th edition of UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook report, GEO-7, is the most comprehensive scientific assessment of the global environment to date. Following its launch, we asked CDE scientist Henri Rueff, who served as a coordinating lead author of the report, what is new in GEO-7 and whether it points to ways out of the current crises. Read the interview
