Votes Baselland – Baselbiet clearly rejects climate protection initiative – News

• The Basel electorate clearly rejects the climate protection initiative of the Greens.
• The proportion of no votes is over 64 percent. Not a single congregation agrees.
• There is a yes to the second proposal: the constitutional amendment to the people’s rights. Here the percentage of yes votes is 77 percent.

The demands of the Greens obviously went too far for the Basel bidders. The Greens wanted the goals of the Paris climate agreement to be laid down in a new law at cantonal level. Among other things, the government should be obliged to actively manage measures to reduce CO2 emissions and to report regularly on the relevant measures and developments.

vote of confidence in the government

In addition to the district administrator, the government also resisted: “We have always emphasized that we stand behind the climate protection goals,” says construction and environmental protection director Isaac Reber (Greens) after the clear no to the initiative, which had already become apparent at noon. “This clear no to the initiative is a vote of confidence by the population in the government,” says Reber. Apparently she was satisfied with the path she had taken.

This clear no to the initiative is a vote of confidence by the population in the government.

SP President Mirjam Locher, on the other hand, is disappointed with the vote of the Basel bidders: “I did not expect the result to be so clear, especially since climate protection is a big issue for many.” The implementation of the initiative would have been the responsibility of the government and the district administrator and this is where Locher locates the weak point. “Apparently, the population had too little confidence that the government and district administrator would have implemented the initiative well.” Locher criticizes the fact that numerous proposals for more climate protection have not yet been implemented by the middle-class government. That is why this initiative was necessary.

Greens don’t want to give up

Michael Durrer, President of the Basel-based Greens, emphasizes that the opponents should now be made responsible for supporting the government’s course and keeping their promises. “We wanted to create commitments in climate policy,” says Durrer. One does not give up on climate protection and is now coming up with further proposals. “But I’m afraid that things won’t progress too quickly.”

I fear that progress will be too slow.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Pulver, President of the Basel-based FDP, is satisfied with the result of the vote. “Those entitled to vote have recognized that there is too much symbolic politics in the initiative,” says Pulver. He also notes that the population has confidence in the government when it comes to climate protection issues. “We think the government is already doing enough.” One wants to lend a hand in the implementation of the climate protection goals, promises Pulver. “Let’s put it this way: there is a need for action in the fight against global warming.”

Clear yes to the constitutional amendment

The second template in the canton of Baselland, which was decided on Sunday, was not controversial in advance. A constitutional amendment was voted on, which, among other things, deals with deadlines for initiatives. For example, a new period of two years should apply to the collection of signatures for initiatives.

The government wants to prevent initiatives from remaining indefinitely in the state chancellery. Approval is clear, with 77 percent voting yes.