Politics Council of States and National Council reject environmental responsibility initiative

The Swiss parliament rejects the environmental responsibility initiative of the Alliance for Environmental Responsibility. Following the National Council, the Council of States has also decided to recommend that the people and cantons vote no to the petition for a referendum.

In the decisive vote on Monday, the small chamber voted 34 to 9 with one abstention in favor of joining the National Council. In June, the National Council had decided by 129 votes to 60 with 2 abstentions to recommend a "no" to the people.

Proposals from two minorities in the Council of States' preliminary consultation committee failed. One minority proposed recommending that the people vote yes to the initiative together with the National Council. A second minority wanted to submit a direct counter-proposal to the people.

With its initiative, the Alliance for Environmental Responsibility is striving for an overall Swiss economy that uses only enough resources to preserve the natural foundations of life. The Federal Constitution is to be amended accordingly.