A nationwide vote on banning fossil fuels in Switzerland has been averted after parliament agreed on a CHF3.2 billion ($3.3 billion) climate action package.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Español
es
Suiza destina miles de millones de francos para salvar los glaciares
Supporters of the ‘Glacier Initiative’ say the new measures go some way to satisfying their demands for Switzerland to stand by the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
The spending spree, which had previously been agreed by the House of Representatives, is also intended to address Switzerland’s immediate energy security that has been threatened by disrupted gas supplies to Europe caused by the Ukraine war.
The money will be spent on subsidising a network of Alpine photovoltaic plants, the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with sustainable alternatives and the renovation of buildings.
The Glacier Initiative committee said the plan would ensure that “effective and rapid climate protection can be realised in Switzerland” and signaled that the initiative will be withdrawn once both chambers of parliament finalise some smaller technical details.
The Glacier Initiative demanded a complete end to greenhouse gas emissions and a ban on fossil fuels by 2050. It gathered enough support in 2019 to force a nationwide vote on its objectives.
Attempts by the Swiss government to introduce measures to reduce greenhouse emissions have proved far from easy. In 2021, voters rejected a proposed C02 law to halve emissions by 2030 largely through new taxes.
Since then, the government has announced a goal of reducing emissions to zero by 2050. Parliament is soon to debate the exact measures needed to ensure that this long-term target is met.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?
Some regions of the world are on an upward trajectory with the promise of a steadily improving future. Where do you live? And in which direction is your region or continent developing?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Heat warning issued in western and southern Switzerland
This content was published on
With the coming days set to be hot, authorities have declared a danger level of 3 out of 5 for certain parts of the country.
Switzerland concerned by fresh Israeli plans for Gaza
This content was published on
The foreign ministry has said it is “deeply concerned” about Israel’s plans to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Satellite images detect signs of Blatten landslide in 2016
This content was published on
Warning signs of the landslide that wiped out the village in May were visible from space years before, the ESA has found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss set to vote on ‘Glacier Initiative’
This content was published on
Campaigners have handed in a “Glacier Initiative” calling on the Swiss authorities to dramatically step up efforts to cut greenhouse gases by 2050.
This content was published on
Swiss voters have rejected legislation at the heart of the country’s strategy to abide by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Climate scientist: more urgency needed over climate crisis
This content was published on
Climate change is causing extreme weather. A climate taskforce, like the Covid 19 science task force, makes sense, a Swiss climate scientist says.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.