Why did the Swiss vote against green regulations?
Swiss voters have clearly rejected a massive green overhaul of the economy in a referendum held on the weekend. Around 70 percent of those who took part voted against the initiative, according to which Switzerland's economic activities would be adapted within the next ten years so that only as many resources are consumed and pollutants released as nature's limits allow.
No saving the planet in passing
For the Süddeutsche Zeitung the result once again shows the gap between the perception of a problem and the necessary action:
“This gap is also a failure on the part of politicians who promise voters that everything will continue as before and that the climate will somehow be saved in passing. The necessary steps and the changes this entails for society and the economy are thus being postponed. ... Wealthy Switzerland in particular could have set an example here. The rejection of the environmental initiative is not only a rejection of the long overdue measures - its clarity could also damage environmental protection as a whole.”
A response to extreme environmentalism
Corriere del Ticino is not surprised by the result:
“In an environment that is (rightly) geared towards economic development, which is a prerequisite for prosperity, social peace and improved quality of life, goals that go in the opposite direction and can only be achieved through top-down shrinkage cannot take root. The price to be paid would be too high and the consequences potentially devastating. The No vote is also a response to extreme environmentalism (and finger-pointing) from those who, while not denying the seriousness of the climate problem, are more concerned about how to make ends meet at the end of the month than the end of the world.”