© KEYSTONE/CHRISTIAN MERZ
The Greens are calling for an ecological shift and want the Confederation to devote more resources to it. Gathered in assembly on Saturday, the delegates approved the idea of launching with the PS a popular initiative to create a fund for the climate.
The party delegates “unanimously” approved this step during their meeting in Ziegelbrücke (GL). The delegates of the PS had already spoken at the beginning of February in favor of the launch of such an initiative.
This text aims to establish a fund fed each year by the Confederation to the tune of 0.5 or even 1% of GDP, or between 3.5 and 7 billion francs. The objective is to decarbonise the country through massive investments.
“Two years following the green wave, federal policy remains deaf to the climate emergency”, noted the Geneva national councilor Isabelle Pasquier-Eichenberger, who called for “a strong popular commitment so that Switzerland achieves a positive climate balance” .
After the rejection of the CO2 law in June, the two parties initially considered separate initiatives, before deciding on a common popular initiative. Competing on the merits does not make much sense, said the president of the Greens Balthasar Glättli on this subject.
“The task of our century”
Returning to the bloody events in Ukraine, Mr. Glättli affirmed that the conflict, and Switzerland’s dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, was an opportunity for Switzerland to take an energy turn. Climate policy is a policy of peace, said the Zurich resident.
“The ecological turn, the abandonment of fossil fuels … this is the task of our century, which we must now succeed,” added Mr. Glättli, quoted in the Greens press release.
Fossil fuels destroy not only the climate, but also democracy and human rights, according to the national councilor. They are a curse for people in oil-producing countries, because oil and gas revenues benefit dictators and oligarchs.
Ecology and peace go hand in hand, compared the president of the Greens. He called for a boycott of Russian gas by Switzerland, as well as “effective sanctions” once morest Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entourage. Nearly 80% of commodity transactions concluded by Russian oligarchs pass through Switzerland. The Zug Greens have been denouncing this situation for decades.
moment of silence
Delegates observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Balthasar Glättli spoke in Ukrainian to people living in war zones. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. No war! No oppression,” he said.
In addition, the Greens have decided on their slogans for the next federal votes. They recommend refusing the strengthening of Switzerland’s participation in the European border protection agency Frontex. Switzerland must not participate in a “border regime that flouts human dignity”. To say no on May 15 is to increase the pressure to reform and obtain a “better Schengen”.
Delegates recommend accepting the principle of presumed consent. More organ donations will save more lives, according to the party. Finally, they voted for the cinema law. According to them, the change in the law will increase the diversity of films, make it possible to produce higher quality content and contribute to the strengthening of culture in Switzerland.
Finally, the assembly confirmed Balthasar Glättli as president and elected in the person of Sibel Arslan and Julia Küng “two new well-profiled vice-presidents”. They replace Oleg Gafner and Luzian Franzini.