SWITZERLAND – THE CO2 ACT – ENERGY TRANSITION: WHAT IF WE ACTUALLY MADE PROGRESS?

The vote on the revision of the CO2 Act is definitely the topic that’s keeping journalists busiest at the moment; even the Covid legislation has taken a back seat.

The question we should be asking is not whether this law is good or bad, but whether it should not be passed for the sake of our country’s future and its international relations.

Well, could we discuss the advertising campaign in favour of this law, the arguments put forward by opponents, and the various points that will be put to a vote?

A true Swiss consensus

Difficult, because there are so many lies on all sides that to truly understand the implications of this law, one would need to know all the details of the various political parties’ work over recent years, as they’ve managed the feat of drafting a revision that accommodates everyone…

So let’s forget all that, because on top of that you’d need to be an expert in energy, economics and international politics…

However, the Swiss Confederation’s website provides all the explanations in simple, easy-to-understand terms; there’s no need to be an expert, you just need to be able to read.

Below are links to the various topics:

The main measures of the revised
CO2 Act Swiss climate policy in an international
context Effects of the CO2 Act on the cleantech
sector Buildings and mobility
Offsetting CO2
emissions Climate Fund: investing in the future
Cost of the revised CO2 Act for an average
family Environmental taxes: Why are you receiving 87.00 francs?

The expert’s analysis

Now, if you’d like the analysis of a true expert in the environment and renewable energy – a brilliant engineer who loves nature and is free from any political bias – I invite you to read the various articles below by my friend Laurent Jospin:

CO2 Act: turbulence ahead!

The geostrategic stakes underlying the CO2 law

The CO2 Law: necessary or insufficient for the environment?

So is this CO2 Law socially responsible or not?

The CO2 Law: a risk or an opportunity for the economy?

What do I think?

I shall nevertheless give you my view as a modest entrepreneur in Switzerland and internationally. Indeed, this law needs to be passed, even if it is neither truly sufficient nor perfect...

1. If it doesn’t pass, our companies – the majority of which excel globally in ultra-high-tech and exceptional luxury products – risk, in the long run, having massive export taxes imposed on them, and few of them will be able to recover… Or those that can will have to cut their budgets, make redundancies, relocate, engage in wage dumping, etc…

2. A small country like Switzerland, so dependent on others, cannot take the risk of finding itself isolated on this path; that would be madness.

3. The worst thing is that if this law does not pass, we risk seeing genuine extremists—who pose a threat to democracy—come to power in five years’ time, and here is what they might well impose on us, as a 2019 article on the Novethic website already suggested:

4. Let’s not forget the Climate Fund, which could help finance truly efficient green infrastructure.

5. Major innovative infrastructure projects in renewable energy production can no longer remain stalled for years; we must move forward quickly and efficiently! Gone are the days of ‘…as slowly as necessary.’

To conclude, I would say that Switzerland must be smart and subtle, play the international strategy game, and that it must absolutely carry out its energy transition from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy whilst ensuring its autonomy in renewable electricity production, enabling its businesses to thrive, its population to live well, and its natural environment to be preserved.

Happy voting!

Alain Farrugia