What happened to the 2019 climate elections: After the party comes the hangover

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In the autumn of 2019, a green wave swept through Switzerland: Greens and Green Liberals celebrated a historic victory and since then formed 44 of the 200 National Councilors – twice as many as before. The eco-parties entered the legislature with accompanying ambitions: now things are moving forward in climate and environmental policy!

A year and a half later, the disillusionment followed: the CO₂ law, which was intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in almost all areas, failed at the ballot box. The new edition, which will soon be submitted to Parliament, is vague and unambitious. The main innovations are the promotion of district heating networks and charging points for e-cars.

Electricity crisis gives new impetus

However, the war in Ukraine and the ensuing electricity crisis have given new impetus to climate policy. The parliament decided on an offensive for solar and wind energy to secure the power supply for the winter. It also raised long-term targets for expanding renewables.

Whether this will ever become a reality, however, remains to be seen: Alpine solar systems are already being enlarged, wind turbines are being fought. Even in the climate protection law, which was approved by the people in June, effective measures are sought in vain.

“The climate elections were more of a hype”

That is also the view of the environmental politicians of the Climate Alliance. “The driver of progress in the field of climate protection during this legislature was not so much the election results in October 2019, but rather the electricity crisis,” admits Roger Nordmann (50), party leader of the SP. He’s not satisfied. In his view, Parliament should have done more.

Center environmental politician Stefan Müller-Altermatt (47) does not like to see things so black. But he also admits that the legislature was only “a roundabout success in terms of climate policy”. GLP President Jürg Grossen also thinks the results with the Climate Protection Act, the Solar and Wind Express were on display. Especially since green wave expectations were exaggerated. “The climate choice was more of a hype.”

State Green Councilor Lisa Mazzone (35) disagrees: the 2019 elections definitively put the subject on the political agenda and climate protection has been a constant companion ever since. The failure of the CO₂ law was therefore all the more bitter. Also because the new edition of the law does not go far enough: “If the law does not become stricter, Switzerland will not achieve its climate goals.”

Environmental parties were unable to convert the election victory

If you ask questions outside parliament, the balance is more critical: “In this legislature, our parliament has not found adequate answers to the enormous problems we are facing due to global warming and the extinction of species,” says the environment committee. organization Pro Natura for example.

The environmental parties have failed to convert their electoral victory into a policy that qualifies for the majority. All that remains is optimism. “The next four years will be important climate legislation,” says Mazzone, hoping for new climate elections in the fall. However, if the Greens lose so much and the GLP gain so little, as the polls show, things will get harder for the Climate Alliance.

Source:Blick