Rob Schmitz/NPR
Stepping outside in what resembled Switzerland, the scenery was deceiving. Majestic white-capped Alps were visible in the distance, mirrored by the turquoise waters of Lake Lucerne as I walked along the waterfront. However, the air defied expectations. Typically, one anticipates crisp, cool mountain air during visits here for story coverage. Yet, during my latest visit, the air was scorching, heavy with humidity, akin to wading through boiling water.
The picturesque Lucerne lay before me, but the atmosphere felt reminiscent of Luzon in the Philippines. Red-and-white-clad soccer fans gathered along the waterfront to watch FIFA World Cup matches on jumbo TV screens. The event was occurring across the ocean in the U.S., featuring Switzerland against Bosnia-Herzegovina. As the Swiss team scored, deafening cheers pierced the tropical-like air.
This experience echoed a reporting trip taken a year prior when I hiked the Rhône Glacier with a Swiss glaciologist. He detailed how Switzerland’s vulnerability to climate changes led to frequent temperature extremes. This resulted in some of the world’s fastest retreating glaciers.
As the evening concluded with Switzerland’s World Cup victory, the country’s struggle against climate warming remains ongoing.