Swiss Review 4/2021

Swiss Review / August 2021 / No.4 24 Politics Protests from youth climate activists (like the ones here in Berne) left the ma- jority of voters un- moved, with the elec- torate rejecting the CO 2 Act – the most important element in Swiss climate policy to date. Photo: Marc Lettau THEODORA PETER The CO2 Act – actually quite a stereo- typically Swiss piece of compromise legislation – appeared to have broad- based support following the gains made by the green parties at the na- tional elections. However, the elector- ate rejected the bill’s measures to re- duce harmful emissions, with 51.6 per cent voting no in the 13 June referen- dum. A narrow majority evidently baulked at the idea of having to dig deeper into their pockets for airline tickets and car fuel. However, push- back also came from elements of the youth climate movement who said that the measures did not go far enough in the fight against climate change. The CO2 Act failed not least because the FDP was unable to per- suade its liberal voter base to endorse green levies and government inter- vention. FDP leader Petra Gössi, who had steered her party in an environ- mentally friendly course (see edition 5/2020 of “Swiss Review”), an- nounced her resignation the day after the vote, but denied that her depar- ture had anything to do with the re- sult. Environment Minister Simonetta Sommaruga (SP) has been left to pick up the pieces. “The proposal probably had too many elements and was eas- ier to attack as a result,” she explained after the vote. On the other hand, the Federal Councillor did not interpret the result as a flat no to more climate protection, despite it nowbeing “very difficult” to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Switzerland has pledged to halve harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become carbon-neutral by 2050. “It will be almost impossible to achieve this without additional measures,” Sommaruga said. The environment minister has set her sights in the short term on promoting the less contro- versial elements of the bill, such as companies being exempted from the CO2 levy if they invest in environmen- tally friendly solutions. Hopes rest on the Glacier Initiative Supporters of the CO2 Act are now pinning their hopes on the “Glacier Initiative”. This proposal, submitted back inNovember 2019, aims towrite the Paris Agreement goals into the Constitution and outlaw the use of fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal. The initiative is backed by environ- mental groups as well as representa- tives of all the political parties – ex- cept the SVP, which campaigned against the CO2 Act. Parliament will debate the initia- tive and any counterproposal over the next few months before voters can have their say. Furthermore, the Fed- eral Council has raised the prospect of a proposal to promote domestic and renewable energy. The left-green parties and the cli- mate movement are targeting banks and insurance companies, saying that environmentally damaging invest- ments ultimately make the financial sector one of the biggest drivers of the climate crisis. Whether a popular in- itiative would be launched remained to be seen at the time of going to press. The Young Greens, for their part, are trying to attract support for an “envi- ronmental responsibility initiative” Swiss voters buck the green trend Switzerland is veering from its set course on climate change. Voters have rejected the beefed-up CO 2 Act, making the goals of the Paris Agreement even harder to achieve.