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The youth of the climate has enough. Because Switzerland has a climate target, but from their point of view they don’t have a sufficient plan, the activists are now coming forward. “We want to show politicians that you can do what they haven’t been able to do for years,” says Lena Bühler (17) of the climate strike. The Bern high school student worked for a year with numerous Gschpänli, experts and scientists on the more than 350-page climate action plan published today.
When it comes to climate protection, Switzerland is not a model student. Since 1990, the Swiss CO2Emissions are multiplied by six. The climate strike movement calls for net zero by 2030 in order to achieve the 1.5 degree target. Their climate action plan functions as step-by-step instructions for a climate-neutral Switzerland: in twelve chapters and 143 measures, the authors list in detail how this will be achieved by 2030, although Switzerland has not set this goal until 2050.
“You have to implement as many as possible as quickly as possible,” says Reto Knutti (47), professor of Weather Physics at ETH Zurich. “The 1.5 degree target is naive under the given political structures. But it would be dangerous to throw in the towel. You just have to discuss what we are doing now and what we will do in five or ten years. “
VIEW does the reality check for ten of the climate strike movement’s most drastic proposals.
1. Construction freeze
Ideas: From now on, new buildings are only allowed if they reduce more greenhouses than they emit. Infrastructure is allowed if you have CO2 saves: bike lanes, wind turbines, technology production facilities.
Reality check: Investments in “green” infrastructure would at least have to compensate for the stoppage of new construction to avoid a recession. However, building bans are likely to take years on a democratic basis.
2. Klimabank
Ideas: A public non-profit climate bank provides loans for renovation, for example, for architectural offices, solar installers, etc. Starting in 2030, banks will no longer be able to issue climate-damaging loans and will have to undergo an annual “climate test.”
Reality check: Sabine Döbeli, CEO of Swiss Sustainable Finance: “The biggest challenge is not financing, but planning and executing relevant projects.”
3. Driving and flying bans
Ideas: No more cars in Swiss cities. No more gasoline, diesel and fossil electricity from 2030. Short-haul flights are prohibited if you can reach your destination in eight hours (from now) or 24 hours (from 2030) by public transport. The aircraft will run on 100% synthetic fuels by 2030.
Reality check: The change is primarily a matter of cost, even for airplanes. As cheap as fossil fuels are today, synthetic alternatives will likely only be available until 2050.
4. Reduce daily trips
Ideas: The commuter tax deduction will be reduced and there will be a ban on new jobs in city centers. Instead, rural areas are improved.
Reality check: It makes sense for people to work more where they live, or vice versa. Digitization, accelerated by Corona, makes this possible, yet urban planner Fabienne Hoelzel (44) is skeptical about whether urban centers will really lose their appeal.
5. Vegan canteens
Ideas: The consumption of meat and dairy products as well as imported foods is reduced. Public canteens, for example in schools and hospitals, cook exclusively vegans, preferably locally and seasonally.
Reality check: Regina Fuhrer (61), president of the Association of Small Farmers: “We share the opinion that it is necessary to change eating habits and reduce meat consumption. On the Swiss grasslands, however, it makes sense to eat beef. “
6. Mega CO2-Tax
Ideas: Climate sinners pay per ton of CO2-Drop 525 francs. The money goes to projects to reduce emissions.
Reality check: With revised CO2-Act, the incentive tax is increased to 210 francs / ton. Jan-Egbert Sturm (51), ETH economics professor: “The tax should reflect the external effects caused by the consumption of CO2 arise. It’s hard to say what is the right amount. “
7. Four-day week for everyone
Ideas: As of now, the working week has one day less and the long-term weekly working time is only 24 hours. Among other things, this reduces carbon emissions in the economic system.
Reality check: “A four-day week will not lead to lower production. It would mean more changes in factories or retail stores, ”says economics professor Sturm.
8. Age of voting rights 14
Ideas: Because young people are particularly affected by climate change, anyone over the age of 14 can vote and vote, as can foreigners who have lived in Switzerland for at least five years.
Reality check: That is politically utopian. Even the age of 16 to vote is highly controversial. Other than that, the consequences would be “extremely small to zero,” says political scientist Lucas Leemann (39). “On the one hand, not many people would come and on the other hand they would not vote and they would vote completely differently.”
9. Climate education
Ideas: Schoolchildren and students, but also certain professions, receive climate education. The media should also report on the climate crisis in a solution-oriented way.
Reality check: ZHAW journalism professor Vinzenz Wyss (55) considers the last requirement to be a “naive illusion”. Journalism is not an educational authority. “Good journalism should not get caught up in something, not even a good one.”
10. Ski less
Ideas: Where there is no real snow, you are no longer allowed to ski. Ski areas receive grants to promote “long-term and sustainable tourism alternatives.”
Reality check: There is a great need to rethink: in the long term, snow is only guaranteed in areas like Zermatt VS. In a scenario without climate protection, even the largest Swiss glaciers will disappear by the end of the century.
