Politics Council of States bends over environmental responsibility initiative

On Monday afternoon, the Council of States began discussing the environmental responsibility initiative of the Alliance for Environmental Responsibility. The majority of the responsible committee requested that the initiative submitted in February 2023 be recommended for rejection.

However, a minority of the Council of States' Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (Urek-S) is asking the small chamber to recommend a yes vote for the initiative.

Another minority is requesting that a direct counter-proposal be submitted to the people. Both motions are likely to have a difficult time in the Council of States on Monday, as the Urek-S is proposing by 10 votes to 3 that the initiative be recommended to the people for rejection.

With its initiative, the Alliance for Environmental Responsibility is aiming for an overall Swiss economy that only consumes enough resources to preserve the natural foundations of life. In June, the National Council voted against the initiative by 129 votes to 60 with 2 abstentions.