Environmentalists are raising concerns about Switzerland’s endangered ecosystems, urging voters to support broader biodiversity protections in a referendum on Sunday. Despite polls indicating the proposal is likely to fail, Swiss voters are also expected to reject a planned pension system reform criticized by unions as deceptive.
Swiss citizens typically vote in advance for popular referendums held every few months as part of Switzerland’s direct democratic system. Polling stations will only be open for a few hours on Sunday morning with early results expected by mid-afternoon.
The first proposal, titled “For the future of our nature and our landscape,” is supported by various environmental protection organizations. They warn that Switzerland’s biodiversity is in decline compared to other European countries.
The organizations behind the referendum are asking voters to approve increased funding for biodiversity conservation and the expansion of protected areas to address the alarming situation. The government and parliament oppose the proposal, arguing that Switzerland is already doing enough to protect biodiversity and warning of negative impacts on the economy.
In addition to the biodiversity proposal, Swiss voters are likely to reject a government-backed pension financing reform on Sunday. The reform, aimed at addressing underfunding in the pension system, has been criticized by unions as a “scam” that would reduce pension payments for contributors.
