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Climate activists accuse politicians of failing to respond to the climate crisis. But this tightened the screw after the embarrassment of 2018: the balance.
Protest in front of the center of power: Climate protesters called for a tougher climate policy this week in front of the Parliament building in Bern. (Beat Mathys)
Criticism is strong. The political system has “failed to respond to the climate crisis”, criticize the protesters who are protesting these days in Bern for a hardening of climate policy under the title “Stand up for change”. Switzerland as well challenge them, aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030. To put it in perspective: compared to the base year 1990, the previous reduction is about 14 percent.
Measured against this target is the new CO₂-Law thats Parliament A.M Friday at the Sgood final votegivehalf hat, really insufficient. But that should not hide the fact that di.e. Polmetik saye has tightened the screw. Less than two years ago the National Council rejected the proposal. In retrospect, the resounding failure marks a turning point: the climate protests that had erupted around the world with Greta at the time received an added boost in this country, and which in the 2019 election year of all places. its climate policy and thus laid the foundations for solid parliamentary majorities. An overview:
Climate target
Switzerland has made an international commitment to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. RE.Parliament has one accordingly Decided to cut by 50 percent. However, it has set a new internal objective and reinforced it during the consultation. Instead of three-fifths, at least three-quarters of the planned halving should now take place domestically – that’s 37.5 percent, the rest with climate protection measures abroad.
To fly
Air travelers will now have to pay a tax on airline tickets of between CHF 30 and 120, depending on the distance and the booking class. At least half of the income from the same wto write per capita distributed to the population. Those who do not fly or fly below average profit. Approximately 10 Percentage, calculations show become net contributors, frequent travelers. Private jets now also have to pay a tax of between CHF 500 and CHF 3000 – pro Start.
Drive
Fuel importers have to recreate the CO₂-Compensation of emissions from gasoline and diesel consumption up to 90 percent with climate protection projects. They can cover the costs they incur with fuel surcharges. Today is a maximum of 5 cents per liter (and in fact almost 2), in the future it can be 10 to 12 cents. However, this price increase is offset by a relief: as Switzerland, like the EU, is gradually adjusting climate targets for new cars, increasingly efficient vehicles requiring less or no fuel are coming onto the market. fossil.
Hot
The maximum CO₂-The tax on fossil fuels continues to rise, from 120 francs a ton to 210. Two-thirds of the tax will be redistributed to the population and the economy as before. The surcharge per liter of heating oil would be around 50 cents. The following also applies here: Those who heat a lot with fossil fuels ultimately pay more than they get. The tax only goes up if Switzerland meets its intermediate targets CO₂-No reduction. In addition, from 2023 or 2026, it will only be possible to replace oil or gas heating with a fossil heating system in efficient buildings. The financing instruments are intended to help homeowners switch to more climate-friendly heating models. Since the latter are often cheaper to operate, renters can also expect relief.
Construction schedule
Parliament has decided to continue the construction program and expand its use; so far it has been limited to 2025. There are also financial changes: the federal government now speaks three times more – instead of that as before repress – in funds for the loan that the respective canton has approved for its program. The additional means, medium are intended to help renovate buildings efficiently and thus reduce heating requirements – and so too the CO₂-Exit.
Climate background
rehis new Financial instrument feed of income from CO₂-Fuel tax and half of income from entry tax. A maximum of 450 million Swiss francs per year should flow into the cantons’ construction program. Half of the revenue from the ticket tax, i.e. around 500 million francs with traffic volume as before Corona, should be used to develop and apply new approaches and technologies in the aviation industry and throughout the world. world. CO₂-What a reduction. Ultimately, Parliament also wants to use the money from the fund to buffer the effects of climate change, for example when costly measures such as protection walls against natural hazards are needed in the Alpine region.
Financial center
The Swiss financial center is making an indirect contribution to climate change with its investments in fossil investments, such as the construction of coal-fired power plants. Now financial institutions must explicitly identify the climate risks of their businesses. However, the law does not require them to make their financial flows climate-friendly. to design.
“The CO₂ law allows us to gain experience in building a society without oil, gas and coal.”
WWF Switzerland assumes that with the measures thememissions can be reduced by almost 40 percent by 2030; at best, the national target would be met. To achieve the target of minus 50 percent by 2030, it will be necessary to reduce emissions abroad.
However, the law does not serve another objective. The Federal Council wants to have a climate neutral Switzerland by 2050 and thus implement the Paris Climate Agreement. “But this requires climate targets twice as ambitious,” says WWF-mexperte Hofstetter. the new However, the law makes it possible to harden existing instruments, introduce new ones, and gain experience in building a society without oil, gas and coal.
The new CO₂ law is a compromise. The SVP will probably take the referendum, the last word
so will the electorate. Regardless of this, the green forces have already announced that they want to continue developing the instruments; it is uncertain whether they will find the necessary majorities in parliament for this.
