National Council wants new attempt for new CO2 law
Published: Wednesday, Dec 18th 2024, 13:40
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The National Council wants to launch a new attempt to revise the CO2 Act. This follows the rejection of a corresponding bill by voters in 2021.
According to the text of the parliamentary initiative, four core principles should apply to a revision of the CO2 Act: All greenhouse gas emissions on Swiss territory and flights departing from Switzerland should be subject to a levy in accordance with the polluter pays principle and their greenhouse gas impact.
The amount of the levy is to be adjusted periodically and the revenue from it is to be refunded to the population and the economy after deduction of the collection and administration costs. In addition, all imported products should be subject to one and the same domestic levy rate according to the emissions allocated to them.
Despite the rejection of the revision of the law by the people in 2021, it is "legitimate to take up the issue again", said initiator Gerhard Pfister (center/ZG) in the Council on Wednesday. Parliament must offer solutions. "Laws should be socially acceptable, implementable, reliable and effective," said Pfister. This is socially acceptable because emissions correlate strongly with economic strength.
This was also the view of the Council, which - contrary to the recommendation of the majority of its Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK-N) - approved the initiative with 98 votes in favor, 91 against and seven abstentions. The Council of States' Environment Committee (UREK-S) must now consider the initiative.
Rapporteur Nicolas Kolly (SVP/FR) noted unsuccessfully that various legislative revisions were currently underway in the climate area - and that a general, new tax on the CO2 footprint "would be harmful to our economy". Aline Trede (Greens/BE), in turn, speaking on behalf of the committee minority that supported the initiative, said that the polluter pays principle was being addressed. "This is a principle that is very fair and enshrined in law," said Trede.
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