Wed, Jan 24th 2024
Swiss Climate Policy Faces Referendum Challenge by SVP
Swiss climate policy faces a new challenge as the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) initiates a referendum against the Valais climate law. The SVP, underlining the law’s significant impact, seeks to collect 3,000 signatures by mid-April.
In a decisive step last December, the Valais Grand Council approved a framework law (93 to 30 votes) to draft a cantonal climate plan. This ambitious law targets zero CO2 emissions by 2040 in Valais, surpassing the pace of other cantons and Switzerland’s 2050 neutrality goal.
Jérôme Desmeules, SVP’s Secretary General for French-speaking Valais, criticized the plan’s feasibility. Alongside the Lower Valais and Upper Valais SVP sections, Desmeules announced a collaborative referendum on Wednesday. They argue against the law’s proposed CHF 100 million climate reserve funded by state assets.
Labeled as a “collective punishment,” the SVP argues that the Valais law will not avert environmental disasters like glacier melting but will burden the local economy, population, and municipalities instead.
Jérôme Desmeules highlighted the 2021 rejection of the CO2 law by 60.9% of Valais voters, indicating substantial public skepticism about Swiss climate initiatives.
This move by the SVP marks a pivotal moment in Swiss climate policy, showcasing the ongoing debate between environmental urgency and public consensus.
Find out more about recent changes in SVP leadership here.
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