Swiss Review 2/2021

Swiss Review / April 2021 / No.2 10 Politics Clean Drinking Water initiative: According to this initiative (brought by citizens with no affiliation to any political party), subsi- dies should only go to farmers who refrain from using pesticides, antibiotics and bought-in fodder. Furthermore, the federal government should only fund agricultural research and education that meets these criteria. (More on pages 6–8) Another “Super Sunday” at the polls The Covid-19 pandemic has failed to thwart direct democracy. On 13 June, voters will give their verdict on five more proposals – two initiatives and three referendums. Here are the issues at stake. Pesticide initiative: This initiative seeks to ban synthetic pesticides in Switzerland – not only in agriculture, but in soil and land management too. The import of food containing pesticides or produced using pesticides would also be banned. A non-party pressure group is behind this proposal as well. (More on pages 6–8) CO2 Act: The Federal Act on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO 2 Act) tightens the CO 2 emission limits for vehicles and increases tax on petrol and fuel. An SVP-backed campaign group representing affected industries opposes the CO 2 Act. Climate strike activists in French-speaking Switzerland have also voiced their dissent, saying the measures do not go far enough in the fight against climate change. (More on page 11) THEODORA PETER As a signatory of the Paris Agreement, Switzerland is committed to combat- ing global warming. To achieve this objective, parties to the agreement must significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by themid- dle of this century. The Federal Coun- cil defined Switzerland’s long-term climate strategy at the beginning of this year, setting out guidelines for reaching the net-zero emissions tar- get by 2050, i.e. the stage where Swit- zerland no longer emits more green- house gases than can be absorbed naturally or by technical means. The country’s building and transport sec- tors are to be emission-free. Thiswill require more clean energy, of which greater amounts – namely geother- mal, solar, wind and wood – will be produced domestically. Higher tax on petrol and fuel The CO2 Act, which parliament ap- proved last autumn, provides the initial basis for a climate-neutral Switzerland. “We are laying the groundwork for Switzerland to achieve the net-zero target,” says en- vironment and energy minister Simonetta Sommaruga (SP). Specific elements in the CO2 Act include tighter CO2 emission limits for vehi- cles as well as tax increases on petrol and fuel. Air passengers will also be obliged to pay a CO2 tax on airline tickets. The car and petroleum indus- tries are particularly opposed to these green measures. A campaign group representing various economic, transport and energy interests, with the backing of the SVP, consequently forced a referendum opposing the CO2 Act. Acid test for Swiss climate policy Switzerland is aiming to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The CO2 Act is the first step towards this goal – provided voters give their approval on 13 June. Two “climate angels” in front of the Federal Palace, showing their support for a climate tax on airline tickets. If voters approve the CO2 Act, this levy will be one of the measures imple- mented. Photo: Keystone