Climate question: Switzerland should not be a black sheep

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Everyone is talking about the climate law, which will be voted on June 18, and its opponents have seen fit to invest a million Swiss francs in a massive disinformation campaign. Let’s remember that this law is supported by the majority of the Swiss parties, both left and right, the FDP, the Greens, the center, the Green Liberals and Socialists, the Swiss Farmers’ Union and more than 230 scientists Scientists in the field of climate, energy, technology, environment, sustainable development and environmental politics, social and human sciences, and economics and law.

The question arises: what happens if Switzerland votes against? Would that really be dramatic? The answer is clear: yes. If Switzerland votes no on June 18, it will become one of the few developed countries in the world that does not have a law setting zero greenhouse gas emissions. In the European Union, as well as in most European countries, be it France, Germany, Austria, the UK, Sweden or Denmark, there are laws similar to the one that will be put to the vote of the Swiss on June 18th. Among others, there is one each in Canada, Australia and Japan. And in the United States, a new law has been passed to encourage economic support for the development of green technologies. All these countries are ahead of Switzerland. It would look like a black sheep if it did not have legislation that would allow it to fulfill the obligations assumed by the ratification of the Paris Agreement.

Are all these countries ignorant? How could they commit themselves to cutting CO2 emissions in just a few decades?₂– become neutral? Will this not lead to exorbitant costs to their economy? While the “No” campaign gives misleading figures about the estimated costs of the law, the ETH Zurich white paper makes it clear that fossil-fuel-free energy supply scenarios by 2050 are “technically feasible and affordable.” Many scientists expect the balance of costs to be positive. A society that no longer uses fossil fuels will also have less local pollution, resulting in high health care costs.

Also, the use of fossil fuels, be it oil, gas or coal, is not free! Anyone who has ever suffered from fluctuations in the price of gasoline, fuel oil or gas knows this. to put pressure on our country by changing the price of oil or gas at will. Wouldn’t it be better to generate our own energy using solar, wind and geothermal energy and work with neighboring democracies like ours? Not to mention that Switzerland is in an advantageous position due to its large hydropower infrastructure. This opens up opportunities for energy storage that can complement additional sources of solar and wind power. With a significant increase in the use of solar and wind energy and moving away from infrastructure dependent on fossil fuels, Switzerland can regain greater control over its energy supply. This will never happen with fossil fuels.

Even the Swiss, who doesn’t care that glaciers are melting, that older people are dying during heat waves, or that farming families have to contend with more unpredictable and extreme weather, should vote in favor. It is about the position of Switzerland in the world and its reputation as a rational and reliable partner.

Source: Blick