The CO2 law won''t ''save the glaciers''

5/23/2021 2:17:52 PM

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) The revamped CO2 law, which will be decided in a national vote on June 13, is too costly for taxpayers and will not make a significant difference, opponents claim. ''State intervention is not needed to reduce carbon emissions,'' says Patrick Eperon, one of the referendum's initiators.

This content was published on May 23, 2021 - 10:00 May 23, 2021 - 10:00

Journalist based in Bern. I am particularly interested in topics about society, politics and social media. Previously I worked in regional media, for the newspaper Journal du Jura and Radio Jura bernois.

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Under the terms of the Paris Climate Agreement, the Swiss government has committed to reducing carbon emissions by half (in comparison with 1990 levels) by 2030. To do this, the government and parliament approved a revised version of the federal CO2 law. Changes include new taxes and measures relating to road vehicles, air traffic, industrial emissions and building renovations.

The law has managed to convince some sections of the Swiss economy, who reckon that it represents a sustainable direction and will foster innovation.

However, for the economic committee ''No to the CO2 law'', the text is wrongheaded. Made up of representatives from the automotive, transport, aviation, construction and oil industries this group successfully launched a referendum against the law, forcing it to a national vote on June 13. The ''no'' campaign also has backing from some climate activists, who reckon the law doesn''t go far enough.

Patrick Eperon, coordinator of the referendum committee for French-speaking Switzerland and a representative of the ''Centre Patronal'' employers group, says the law is an overreach by the state.

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