Swiss Federal Council adopts 2026-2031 climate adaptation plan with 56 measures

Strategy and action plan

On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the Federal Council adopted a climate adaptation strategy and an action plan covering 2026 to 2031. The strategy sets the objectives for adapting to climate change and identifies measures in 30 fields of action, bringing the total in the action plan to 56 measures. It rests on the 2025 climate risk analysis of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and on climate scenarios from ETH Zurich and MeteoSwiss. Protecting the population from heat and managing water during drought are its central pillars, alongside natural hazards and changes to habitats. The strategy is oriented to global warming of three degrees compared with pre-industrial times, which the climate scenarios translate into an average rise of about 4.9 degrees in Switzerland.

Heat, health and mapping

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has been asked to set up a competence centre for health risks linked to heat and climate change. The centre is to coordinate the actors involved and run health monitoring to assess how well the adaptation measures work. The FOPH will also keep recording heat-related deaths and hospital admissions and develop that recording further. MeteoSwiss is to produce new national heat maps and extreme scenarios, with the data made available through a public dashboard. A risk-based concept is being developed for monitoring cooling towers and other water systems with a legionella risk. Basel recorded 28 legionellosis cases in summer 2026.

Water, housing and farming

Groundwater levels remain at historically low levels in many places after the heat summer, and drought is far from solved even though temperatures have fallen noticeably. Heat periods are expected to become more frequent, longer and more intense. The Confederation plans a national water strategy to clarify how water can be used sustainably as drought increases, including the protection of waterways and drinking water. For homes, the government will develop basics so dwellings stay comfortable at high outdoor temperatures, with recommendations on shading, greenery and natural ventilation. In farming, the focus is on more resilient plant varieties and better soil management, while tourism is to shift toward less seasonal offers so mountain regions depend less on snow.

Funding and earlier decisions

The Adapt+ programme has promoted measures since 2025 that reduce climate risks and protect people, property and the environment, and cantons, municipalities and cities can apply for financial support for adaptation projects. The government has asked DETEC to examine how the programme could be developed financially and organisationally so it can react more flexibly. The national drought platform, active since 2025, is to be adapted so its information shows the impact of drought on individual sectors. A round table led by DETEC and the economy department (DEFR) discussed alpine farming, water infrastructure and reservoir permits. It concluded that the Confederation should make better use of its room for manoeuvre to speed up approvals for farm roads and water reservoirs. At the end of August, the Federal Council had already adopted targeted measures, and Federal Councillor Albert Rösti announced that the government would ask parliament to raise a credit for Switzerland's stressed forests by CHF 17.5 million. Farm operating aid is also to be topped up once this year by CHF 54 million, so farmers can bridge drought-related liquidity shortfalls with interest-free loans.

Forest credit increase requested from parliament17.5

One-off farm operating aid top-up this year54

Forest credit increase requested from parliament

17.5 CHF million

One-off farm operating aid top-up this year

54 CHF million

Data from the article text

Sequence of decisions

The sequence runs from the 2025 start of Adapt+ and the drought platform, through the end-of-August measures, to the strategy adopted on 28 October. The Federal Council has also asked the social partners to hold talks aimed at a consensus on minimum health protection rules for construction work in heat. Earlier round table talks on construction in heat had not produced an agreement. Research projects on animal health and food security, under the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), are also on the agenda.