Editing Visp (section)

== Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of Lonza chemical factory in Visp ==
The Lonza chemical factory regularly makes headlines and causes concern, as attempted soil contamination is frequently discovered around Visp. This has, at times, led to gardens being rendered unusable, with the type, quantity, and precise locations of the contaminated soil often remaining unclear. Since 1987, it has been known that the Gamsenried landfill has, demonstrably, poisoned groundwater. Throughout the investigations and reassurances from Lonza, accusations against the company and the canton have arisen multiple times, alleging that they were concealing investigation results and not communicating transparently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verseuchtes Wallis - die Altlasten der Lonza |url=https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/rundschau/video/verseuchtes-wallis-die-altlasten-der-lonza?urn=urn:srf:video:689ea5e9-b175-4f89-9395-7bc3dcd22d76}}</ref>

Switzerland's environmental concerns regarding Lonza became apparent in September 2016. At that time, Lonza threatened environmental authorities that they would consider relocating to China if they were not willing to bear the costs of a legally required air filter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Die Klimaschande von Visp (German) |url=https://interaktiv.tagesanzeiger.ch/2020/lonza-treibhausgas-leck/}}</ref> The threat had an impact. Ultimately, Switzerland yielded and paid millions, far exceeding the costs of such a filter. In this context, there was also a report by Swiss television, in which serious allegations against Lonza were raised. Not only was the extensive contamination from the hazardous waste site criticized, but also Lonza's attempt to pass the costs onto the state treasury. This was particularly perplexing because Lonza consistently generated billion-dollar profits.

In 2018, it was discovered that a [[nicotinic acid]] factory at the Lonza site was responsible for around one percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, as the chemical synthesis route used generated [[nitrous oxide]] as a byproduct.<ref>{{Citation | last = Lenz | first = Christoph | title = The climate disgrace of Visp | newspaper = European Press Prize | year = 2021 | url = https://www.europeanpressprize.com/article/the-climate-disgrace-of-visp/ | access-date = 8 September 2023 | archive-date = 8 September 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230908132352/https://www.europeanpressprize.com/article/the-climate-disgrace-of-visp/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Laudert |first=D. |title=Application of Enzymes and Microbes for the Industrial Production of Vitamins and Vitamin-Like Compounds |last2=Hohmann |first2=H.-P. |date=2011 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-444-64047-5 |pages=620 |language=en |doi=10.1016/b978-0-444-64046-8.00188-9 |quote=[[Lonza Group|Lonza AG]] of Switzerland produces nicotinic acid in their Swiss production site in Visp, whereas the manufacturing site for the amide is in China, Guangdong Province.}}</ref> Eventually, catalytic scrubbing technology that eliminates most of the emissions was installed in 2021.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Davidson |first1=EA |last2=Winiwarter |first2=W |title=Urgent abatement of industrial sources of nitrous oxide |journal=Nature Climate Change |date=July 2023 |volume=13 |issue=7 |pages=599–601 |doi=10.1038/s41558-023-01723-3|bibcode=2023NatCC..13..599D |url=https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/18888/1/28631_3_art_file_250545_rrtr4f_convrt_fp.pdf }}</ref>

In 2021, Lonza announced plans to create 1,200 new jobs in Visp. Lonza rapidly conducted extensive advertising both in Switzerland and internationally to fill these positions as quickly as possible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Die neuen Walliser – Tausende folgen dem Lockruf der Lonza (German) |url=https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/boom-im-bergkanton-die-neuen-walliser-tausende-folgen-dem-lockruf-der-lonza}}</ref> However, the municipality and the Visp region were unprepared for such an influx. Water, electricity, and accommodation facilities were not equipped to handle the needs of so many newcomers. Despite Lonza generating billions in Visp, they did not pay taxes in the Visp region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ein Tal wird gentrifiziert (German) |date=16 February 2022 |url=https://www.woz.ch/2207/lonza-und-das-oberwallis/ein-tal-wird-gentrifiziert}}</ref> As a result, the municipality had to cover the necessary costs arising from the influx itself, which regularly led to deficits in the municipal budget. Apart from concerns about drinking water, the extreme housing shortage and the consequent soaring rental prices were also prominent issues. In May 2022, a case of social welfare made headlines, where a mother and her child were forced to live in a tent on a campsite.