Zürcher Nachrichten - Swiss vote on renewable energy plan for 2050 carbon neutrality

EUR -
AED 3.847595
AFN 70.955217
ALL 98.129555
AMD 407.873345
ANG 1.877009
AOA 956.396496
ARS 1052.049047
AUD 1.610027
AWG 1.888176
AZN 1.778779
BAM 1.955374
BBD 2.102782
BDT 124.452883
BGN 1.956627
BHD 0.394854
BIF 3076.35906
BMD 1.047532
BND 1.403708
BOB 7.23656
BRL 6.114418
BSD 1.041483
BTN 88.395715
BWP 14.228171
BYN 3.408322
BYR 20531.622365
BZD 2.099283
CAD 1.462931
CDF 3007.463637
CHF 0.932508
CLF 0.03692
CLP 1018.737053
CNY 7.590098
CNH 7.59878
COP 4598.402514
CRC 530.489476
CUC 1.047532
CUP 27.759591
CVE 110.855692
CZK 25.335395
DJF 185.46313
DKK 7.457905
DOP 62.766923
DZD 140.965938
EGP 52.004718
ERN 15.712976
ETB 127.496637
FJD 2.382454
FKP 0.826835
GBP 0.833641
GEL 2.870045
GGP 0.826835
GHS 16.546166
GIP 0.826835
GMD 74.374398
GNF 8977.129671
GTQ 8.084076
GYD 219.097457
HKD 8.151698
HNL 26.318517
HRK 7.472315
HTG 136.711517
HUF 411.800971
IDR 16654.445463
ILS 3.862223
IMP 0.826835
INR 88.266649
IQD 1364.328775
IRR 44074.898841
ISK 145.481021
JEP 0.826835
JMD 165.915433
JOD 0.743012
JPY 161.935842
KES 135.658433
KGS 90.613407
KHR 4193.126388
KMF 494.957723
KPW 942.778181
KRW 1468.838686
KWD 0.322504
KYD 0.867927
KZT 520.016622
LAK 22876.452218
LBP 93263.459457
LKR 303.119741
LRD 189.027228
LSL 18.793764
LTL 3.093089
LVL 0.633642
LYD 5.085989
MAD 10.535438
MDL 18.996224
MGA 4861.033639
MKD 61.641022
MMK 3402.342273
MNT 3559.512841
MOP 8.35024
MRU 41.439366
MUR 49.056254
MVR 16.194626
MWK 1805.940983
MXN 21.368218
MYR 4.674611
MZN 66.947912
NAD 18.793764
NGN 1768.715105
NIO 38.322016
NOK 11.58104
NPR 140.650696
NZD 1.79238
OMR 0.403283
PAB 1.04728
PEN 3.94914
PGK 4.193126
PHP 61.827942
PKR 289.212844
PLN 4.334985
PYG 8130.3837
QAR 3.819351
RON 4.976436
RSD 117.00301
RUB 108.876923
RWF 1421.703797
SAR 3.932779
SBD 8.78204
SCR 15.752477
SDG 630.091354
SEK 11.518303
SGD 1.411093
SHP 0.826835
SLE 23.810185
SLL 21966.222062
SOS 595.175999
SRD 37.181136
STD 21681.792335
SVC 9.113188
SYP 2631.954808
SZL 18.787265
THB 36.265313
TJS 11.15323
TMT 3.666361
TND 3.327129
TOP 2.453421
TRY 36.221028
TTD 7.073459
TWD 34.008644
TZS 2775.959214
UAH 43.086435
UGX 3869.619193
USD 1.047532
UYU 44.537316
UZS 13361.088752
VES 48.47434
VND 26633.494828
VUV 124.365075
WST 2.92428
XAF 655.820364
XAG 0.034027
XAU 0.000392
XCD 2.831007
XDR 0.792243
XOF 655.820364
XPF 119.331742
YER 261.804392
ZAR 18.924922
ZMK 9429.03573
ZMW 28.770281
ZWL 337.304797
  • NGG

    1.0296

    63.11

    +1.63%

  • BCC

    3.4200

    143.78

    +2.38%

  • GSK

    0.2600

    33.96

    +0.77%

  • BTI

    0.4000

    37.38

    +1.07%

  • RIO

    -0.2200

    62.35

    -0.35%

  • AZN

    1.3700

    65.63

    +2.09%

  • CMSC

    0.0320

    24.672

    +0.13%

  • CMSD

    0.0150

    24.46

    +0.06%

  • SCS

    0.2300

    13.27

    +1.73%

  • JRI

    -0.0200

    13.21

    -0.15%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0100

    6.79

    -0.15%

  • RBGPF

    59.2400

    59.24

    +100%

  • BP

    0.2000

    29.72

    +0.67%

  • BCE

    0.0900

    26.77

    +0.34%

  • VOD

    0.1323

    8.73

    +1.52%

  • RELX

    0.9900

    46.75

    +2.12%

Swiss vote on renewable energy plan for 2050 carbon neutrality
Swiss vote on renewable energy plan for 2050 carbon neutrality / Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI - AFP/File

Swiss vote on renewable energy plan for 2050 carbon neutrality

Swiss voters were expected to approve in a referendum Sunday a law aimed at accelerating the development of renewable energy as the country aims for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Text size:

According to the final opinion polls published in May, 73 percent of voters are set to approve the law on "a secure electricity supply based on renewable energies".

Less than two months ago Switzerland became the first country ever to be condemned by an international court for not doing enough to combat climate change, in a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

The new law was approved by parliament last year, and most environmental organisations back the legislation and its ambitions.

However, a few smaller environmental groups that oppose it managed to garner enough support to trigger a referendum.

They fear it will fast-track large-scale energy projects and see Switzerland's pristine Alpine landscapes plastered in wind turbines and solar panels.

They also deplore limitations on the possibilities for local residents to launch appeals against the construction of new renewable energy installations.

Retired economist Pierre-Alain Bruchez, who spearheaded the referendum push, said there was "no reason to put solar panels on mountain pastures, when there is so much space" on buildings.

He launched the battle after learning of the Grengiols-Solar project, aimed at installing around 230,000 solar panels in the mountainous Wallis canton, at an altitude of 2,500 metres, calling it a "vision of horror".

- Largest party opposes law -

Switzerland's largest party, the hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP), supports the referendum, above all in the name of defending civil nuclear power, which provided 32 percent of total energy production last year.

The SVP thinks renewable energies do not guarantee energy security due to their fluctuating nature.

The law is backed by major non-governmental organisations such as Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

It aims to boost wind and solar power's current miniscule contribution to Switzerland's energy mix and rapidly increase hydro power production so that the wealthy landlocked country is less dependent on importing electricity.

The law envisages installing solar panels on building roofs and facades.

It also eases planning conditions for wind turbines and large solar installations.

The government acknowledges that court appeals against large energy projects "will probably be less likely to succeed than before".

But it stressed that projects would be examined on a case-by-case basis and constructing large installations in "biotopes of national importance" and migratory bird reservations will remain outlawed, albeit with some exceptions.

The law also outlines 16 hydroelectric projects, a sector which last year represented 57 percent of national electricity production. These involve building new dams or heightening existing ones.

- Votes on health issues -

Under Switzerland's direct democracy system, citizens can trigger nationwide votes on topics by collecting 100,000 valid signatures within 18 months. Voting take place every three months.

Most voters have cast their ballots in advance by post for Sunday's referendum, with polling stations only open until noon (1000 GMT) and results expected later in the day.

National votes are also taking place on three popular initiatives -- topics proposed by the public -- linked to health.

One aims to cap health contributions at 10 percent of income, while another is also aimed at limiting health costs.

A third, against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, does not mention vaccinations but demands a patient's consent be obtained for invasive procedures that may affect their physical or mental integrity -- and that a person who refuses consent may neither be penalised nor disadvantaged.

At the cantonal level, in the Geneva region, a vote is taking place on whether to ban the exhibition or wearing of symbols of hatred, in particular Nazi symbols, in public spaces.

Geneva residents will also have to decide on whether to repeal a provision preventing nursing homes from refusing to allow assisted suicide on their premises.

A.Senn--NZN