In June this year, a referendum approved a climate law aimed at reducing net carbon dioxide emissions to zero, but the government is stalling.
According to organizers, more than sixty thousand people participated in the climate protest held in the Swiss capital on Saturday – written by Reuters News Agency. Although the Bern police did not want to estimate the number of people, the size of the demonstration indicates the general discontent that characterized the Swiss announcement in this case. The crowds that took to the streets demanded more decisive action from the government, all just weeks before the elections.
It is also typical of Switzerland that the rate of warming here is much faster than elsewhere. To understand this, it is enough to know the fact that Swiss glaciers have shrunk by ten percent in two years, according to the news agency’s summary.
The Green Party, which organized a massive demonstration on Saturday, achieved a marked improvement in its results in the recent parliamentary elections, but even this was not enough to gain a place in the government. According to the party, the current parliamentary majority hinders rapid, consistent and effective action regarding climate protection. According to them, the changes will be necessary in the next elections scheduled for October 22.
In a referendum last June, Swiss voters already approved a draft climate protection law, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050. They want to achieve this by offering financial incentives to companies and consumers to switch to renewable energy sources. However, according to the government, the law will only come into force in 2025.
