In a referendum, the majority of people in Switzerland have voted to pass a new law that will drastically cut carbon emission and reach in net zero by 2050.
The first day of a protest at the World Economic Forum’s on Davos on 18th of January 2020 near Davos, Switzerland. (photo by Kristian Buus/In Pictures via Getty Images)
The bill was first proposed in September 2022, after activists and scientists campaigned to save Switzerland’s iconic glaciers, which are melting at an alarming rate.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other young climate activists of the “Fridays for Future” movement stage an unauthorised demonstration on the closing day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 20, 2023. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
It was supported by almost all parties except the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which argued the law would increase energy prices and become too costly for Swiss people.
Students attend a climate strike in Lausanne, Switzerland on Aug. 9, 2019. (Photo by Eric Dubost/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The SVP then triggered a referendum against the law.
More than 10,000 school students and activists gather on an anniversary of Fridays for Future school climate strike on January 17, 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto)
However, on Sunday June 18, the majority of Swiss people – 59.1% – voted in favor of the Climate and Innovation law.
A climate activist holds a sign reading ‘Power to the people’ during a Fridays For Future strike for climate protection that is part of ‘SMILE for Future’ event on August 9, 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The new law will speed up cutting carbon dioxide emissions and rolling out renewable energy, in particular solar energy.
Young Socialists Switzerland (JUSO) activists take part in a protest against the World Economic Forum (WEF), calling for a climate tax on the rich, on the eve of the WEF annual meeting in Davos, on January 15, 2022. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
The government will also invest 2 billion Swiss francs or about $2.2 billion US dollars over 10 years to help people and companies transition away from fossil fuels.
A young demonstrator poses for a picture and shows her placard during 1st Anniversary Climate Strike in Lausanne on January 17, 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images)
“The Swiss understood that the climate law is essential to take a first step and inscribe in Swiss law a clear objective for 2050. When you have a clear objective, you can then put in place the necessary measures,” left-wing MP for Switzerland’s Green Party, Céline Vara, said.
People participate in a demonstration during first anniversary Climate Strike, taking place during the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland on January 17, 2020. (Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images)
In a separate referendum also on Sunday, 78.5% of voters also backed a law to introduce a global minimum tax rate of 15% for multinational companies.
A man dressed as Ronald McDonald holds a sign as he takes part in a gathering called by climate activists prior to the start of a march to Davos ahead of the World Economic Forum in January 19, 2020 in Landquart. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
