Set back for environment -go ahead for Covid and police laws

In a major setback to the environmental cause – voters have rejected, narrowly 51.6%, the law to cut CO2 emissions.

The government’s aim was to bring in a series of measures to slash the country’s carbon emissions, mainly with tax incentives on home heating and extra taxes to be levied on fuel and airline tickets. 

Those against the plans were from the two sides – some say it’s pointless a small country like Switzerland brings in major limits on CO2 when big polluters, such as the US and China, don’t do the same – while others say the law didn’t go far enough.

The national result shows a major spilt between rural and urban areas – but also between French and German speaking regions. Vaud and Geneva voted in favour – with Geneva coming out very strongly with over 60% in favour of the law.

Also failing at the ballot box, with a far wider margin at 60%, were the two initiatives, ‘For Clean Water and Healthy Food’ and ‘For a Switzerland without Artificial Pesticides’. 

Both initiatives were strongly resisted by farmers, claiming it would cut choice and agricultural income. 

But voters have backed the government’s Covid plans. The vote was needed to retroactively approve the emergency measures Bern introduced to cut infection rates as well as protecting individuals and businesses badly affected by the lockdowns – over 60% agreed.

Also, voters have given the go ahead to new police powers designed to prevent terror attacks. Police can now act more pre-emptively if they believe there’s a danger and, in extreme cases, some individuals could be placed in preventative detention. Detractors say the law is too vaguely worded and could be abused. Even so, 57% said it can be now become law.