The recent vote in Switzerland has clearly shown that the majority of citizens do not support the idea of adjusting the country’s economic growth to fit within planetary limits. As Monika Rühl, the director of Economisusse, the Federation of Helvetic Companies, stated, “Swiss citizens have not wanted to put the country against the wall.” The proposal, which was put forth by the Green Party, was rejected by 70% of voters. The Green Party expressed disappointment, saying that “Switzerland is missing a great opportunity to fight environmental crises” and that the victory has been given to those who ignore the warnings of scientists about the overexploitation of natural resources.
The idea behind the proposal was to restrict consumption to what the planet can regenerate, taking into account factors such as water consumption, soil use, and activities that impact climate change. However, the Central Party argued that Switzerland already has the necessary tools to carry out its environmental policy, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This policy, which was approved in a referendum in 2023, requires the total abandonment of fossil energy sources and the reduction of net greenhouse gases to zero by 2050.
The referendum proposed that Switzerland had a period of ten years to adjust its economic growth to planetary limits. However, analysts pointed out that the decade-long timeframe was one of the major weaknesses of the proposal, causing voters to fear an increase in the cost of living. The concept of “planetary limits” includes not only well-known variables such as temperature increase, loss of biodiversity, and soil overexploitation but also less known factors like the emission of excessive amounts of roof and phosphorus into the atmosphere.
According to scientists, in 2015, four of the nine existing planetary limits had been exceeded. By 2023, two more limits had been exceeded, including contamination with synthetic substances and the disturbance of the water cycle. The only areas where the planet is still in a “safe zone” are the acidification of the oceans and the contamination of fine particles, although both are trending in a negative direction. The recovery of the ozone layer is one area where progress has been made, thanks to the international prohibition of substances that were causing its destruction.
Environmental Concerns and Economic Growth
The co-president of the Verdes Youth Section, Margot Chauderna, emphasized that economic systems must understand that infinite growth cannot work with finite resources. This highlights the need for a balanced approach to economic growth and environmental protection. The Swiss direct democracy system allows citizens to rule on public policies and propose measures, providing a unique opportunity for citizens to have a say in the country’s environmental policy.
The outcome of the referendum shows that Swiss citizens are not yet ready to make significant changes to their economy in order to address environmental concerns. However, with the country’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, it is clear that environmental protection is still a priority. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the Swiss approach will be closely watched, and its successes and failures will provide valuable lessons for other countries.