“Arena” on climate policy – the glacier initiative is about to be withdrawn – News


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The father of the glacier initiative wants to campaign for the initiative to be withdrawn, provided that the indirect counter-proposal is no longer weakened by parliament. In the “Arena”, the guests discussed the pros and cons of the Swiss climate strategy.

Almost exactly a year after the CO2 law was scuttled in the referendum, the National Council spoke out clearly in favor of the indirect counter-proposal to the glacier initiative on Wednesday.

“I’m convinced that the indirect counter-proposal is something that will get us ahead,” stressed Marcel Hänggi, co-initiator of the so-called glacier initiative, in the “Arena” on Friday evening. Hänggi, who describes himself as the “father” of the glacier initiative, made it clear: “If it stays that way and the Council of States doesn’t weaken anything, I will work to ensure that the glacier initiative is withdrawn.” The proposal is still not enough; but measured against what is currently possible in terms of realpolitik, it offers a good solution.

The guests in the “Arena”


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  • Michael GraberNational Council SVP/VS
  • Jon PultNational Councilor SP/GR
  • Susanne Vincenz StauffacherNational Councilor FDP/SG
  • Florence BrenzikoferNational Councilor Greens/BL

Also in the studio:

  • Marcel Hanggiresearch associate at the Swiss Climate Protection Association and member of the initiative committee of the glacier initiative
  • Ueli BamertManaging Director of Swissoil

Moderated by Sandro Brotz.

The indirect counter-proposal pursues climate neutrality in Switzerland by 2050. It thus takes on the core concern of the popular initiative. In contrast to the so-called glacier initiative, the counter-proposal does not ban fossil fuels.

Instead, it contains concrete measures: around 2 billion Swiss francs are earmarked for replacing fossil fuel heating systems, and another 1.2 billion for promoting new technologies in industry. The counter-proposal also contains specific benchmarks in the areas of buildings, transport and industry.

Massively more electricity is required to achieve the prescribed targets.

The indirect counter-proposal found broad support in the National Council. Only the SVP faction was against it. It is unclear where the money for the support measures should come from, said SVP National Councilor Michael Graber on the show. It is also not possible to implement it. “In order to achieve the prescribed targets, massive amounts of electricity are needed.” In addition, climate change is happening globally. It is therefore naïve to draw up regulations that cost the local population a lot but cannot save the climate.

Support or ban?

SP National Councilor Jon Pult disagreed with this view. The counter-proposal cannot solve the climate problem, but it is a first step. On the one hand, the proposal can be implemented quickly. It comes into force immediately unless a referendum is called. On the other hand, there is the right logic behind it: “Climate policy without increasing prices, but with investments to support our society.” This means that all citizens could afford to switch from oil heating to a heat pump. Homeowners and renters alike would benefit.

Today 15,000 heaters are replaced each year, to reach net zero that number needs to be doubled.

Such “state intervention” is Ueli Bamert, Managing Director of Swissoil, “skeptical”, as he said on the show. Politicians are already doing a lot, and the proportion of oil heating systems is falling rapidly. He stands up for the fact that homeowners can decide for themselves. In addition, there are many houses that are not at all suitable for the installation of a heat pump. In old houses that are poorly insulated, for example, installing a heat pump can be very expensive. The indirect counter-proposal is not effective and amounts to a ban.

FDP National Councilor Susanne Vincenz-Stauffacher, for her part, emphasized that as a liberal she was also against a ban, as the initiative would have demanded. “But that’s not a rejection of specific, selective funding.” There are still around 900,000 fossil fuel heaters. With the current building program in the cantons, 15,000 heating systems would be replaced each year. But to reach net zero by 2050, that number needs to be doubled. The counter-proposal therefore rightly envisages a funding program to strengthen and accelerate the existing program.

The next step is for the Council of States to discuss the indirect counter-proposal. “I’m optimistic that things will go well,” said Marcel Hänggi. If not, he and his team are ready for any voting campaign.

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