The new CO2 law was rejected in Switzerland by 50,6 % no voters last Sunday...:(:(:(!!!
We are back to field one, unfortunately...

Hello everyone,

Ah, I am very sorry, but the vote last Sunday in Switzerland on a new CO2-law has failed:(:(:(
I saw it coming that it would be a close run, the polls have suggested it already - but in the end, only 50,6 % no's brought it down which is a bitter pill indeed - at voting participation of 60% which is quite high...

Especially the rural areas here were against new taxes on fossil fuels and restrictions when someone has to replace their heating system with a green energy solution and at the same time invest in better insulation / better windows and the like... or buy a new Electric car and such...

So it gets more and more unlikely that we will reach the goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to the year 1990 until the year 2030, and to 0 % by the year 1950 as promised by the Paris agreement we signed like so many other nations.

So far we managed to reduce 14% in total since 1990, or to put it in another way, 24% per capita, so per person which is unsufficient by far!

The arguments that convinced especially right-wing voting people, house-owners, and the middle class were:

- we suffer already a lot (Covid and such): why pay even more taxes now?
- I am living in the countryside where public transportation can not be as convenient as in the city areas. Why should I be punished once more?
- Switzerland contributes only by 0,1 % to the worldwide CO2 emissions. If we do something here it is tremendously expensive and will definitely not save the world and our climate will change anyway, nothing to be done about it!
- So let the big polluters like Canada, the USA and China do their job first!

What is the status nowadays in Switzerland?
Compared to the average worldwide emissions of 6 T CO2 equivalents per person we emit 14 T CO2 equivalents if you take imports/exports into account too, which you should.

What are some of the fields where we could reduce our emissions since 1990?
- buildings: - 34%
- industries: -14 %
- traffic: unfortunately +1%

Climate change measures are not for free, that is as cristal clear as pure water...!

The million-dollar question therefore is: 
Who is going to pay for it!
- the little guy like you and me?
- the state which means the taxpayers?
- those wealthy guys, industries, and companies that profit the most from globalization?
- those industries like oil and gas mining, car manufacturers or power plants that burn fossil fuels or coal?

Or should we think of other solutions to collect the necessary money of about 3 to 4 % of the GDP per year like:
- a tax on financial transactions?
- a worldwide minimum tax for the profits of each company of 15% at least - as the G7-states recently decided, paid out in every country they do their business?
- or should we increase the taxes on CO2 emissions to such a high level for everyone and everything that it just does not make sense not to invest in better solutions?

Who knows...

Our young climate activists like my older son Tobias are frustrated, now that is for sure!

It's about the world they will inherit one day and it's them who will have to deal with all the consequences we just do not want to solve now!

That much from Switzerland - I am very afraid we don't do better!!!
It does not mean a complete stop but it's a setback that won't allow us to reduce our emissions until 2030 by 50% compared to 1990...

Right now, Switzerland's ranking in terms of climate change is only at 14th place.
So all the other 13 leading nations do much more than we do. And that is a pity. We could afford it, one way or the other, no doubt!!!

Ah, I am a bit pissed right now, let’s admit it...;)

Have a good day now!

Very kindly
Urs