Council of States committee wants to weaken the National Council’s CO2 Act
Published: Friday, Jan 12th 2024, 16:10
Updated At: Friday, Jan 12th 2024, 16:10
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The details of the CO2 Act for the period after 2025 remain controversial. The responsible Council of States committee describes several decisions made by the National Council as unrealistic and wants to weaken the bill in favor of "pragmatic solutions".
The revised CO2 Act for the period 2025 to 2030 is intended to help achieve the Swiss net-zero target for 2050 and a secure energy supply. Switzerland has committed itself to this under the Paris Climate Agreement. Greenhouse gas emissions are to be halved by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Both councils discussed the bill for the first time last year and supported the reform in principle. Following the failure of the revised CO2 Act 2021 at the ballot box, the bill is a new attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
No fixed domestic share
In the period from 2025 to 2030, proven instruments are to be combined with targeted incentives. Parliament would like to do without new or higher levies.
However, some key points of the revised law are still likely to give rise to discussion. In contrast to the upper chamber, the Council of States' Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (Urek-S) does not want to know about a fixed domestic share for reducing emissions, as the parliamentary services announced on Friday.
The National Council wants 75% of the reduction in Swiss greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved domestically. The Council of States did not specify a concrete target in figures. As requested by the Federal Council, it had decided to reduce emissions "primarily" domestically. It had assumed a domestic potential of around two thirds.
The Urek-S would like to maintain this by 8 votes to 3. In its view, the target demanded by the National Council is "not realistic". It is now a matter of finding pragmatic solutions in climate policy.
No subsidies for charging stations
The promotion of charging infrastructure for e-cars is controversial. The National Council wants to subsidize basic installations for charging stations with up to CHF 20 million per year. These must be located in multi-party buildings or in public parking lots.
The Urek-S rejects this by 7 votes to 3 - thus confirming the Council of States' initial decision. In its opinion, it is not the task of the federal government to co-finance such infrastructure in apartment buildings, at companies or in public parking lots.
Unlike the National Council, the Council of States committee does not want to set annual interim targets for the CO2 target values for new cars. It merely wants to stipulate that from 2030, new cars will be allowed to emit 45% of their 2021 emissions. This would be in line with European regulations, which would guarantee reliability, it argues.
No increase in gasoline prices
A compromise on the heavy vehicle charge is within reach: the Urek-S is in favor of a reduction in the HVF for both electric trucks and those powered by renewable fuels. However, the reduction should only apply for eight years from the date of entry into force. A strong minority of the Council of States committee has requested that the decision of the small chamber be upheld and that the current law be retained.
With regard to renewable fuels, the Commission is proposing to join the National Council in rejecting the transfer obligation proposed by the Federal Council. This would have increased fuel prices by an additional five centimes. The committee now wants to forego this in favor of broad acceptance of the CO2 Act, by 9 votes to 2.
Finally, the Urek-S proposes a compromise on the mineral oil tax for licensed transport companies: In the city, this should be due from 2026, in the countryside only from 2030 - including the possibility of exceptions for topographical reasons.
The councils have already waived a levy on flights with private and business jets. The CO2 levy is also to remain at CHF 120 per tonne of CO2. Importers of petrol and diesel should continue to have to offset part of the CO2 emissions of these fuels with climate measures, now with a maximum rate of up to 90 percent.
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