Environmentalists are raising concerns about Switzerland’s endangered ecosystems, despite its pristine natural landscapes, and are urging voters to support broader biodiversity protections in an upcoming referendum on Sunday.
Opinion polls suggest that the proposal may not pass, and voters are also expected to reject a planned reform of the country’s pension system, criticized by unions as a “scam”.
Most voters have already cast their ballots in the popular votes held regularly under Switzerland’s direct democratic system, and polling stations will open for a few hours on Sunday morning.
Initial results are anticipated by mid-afternoon.
The first proposal titled “For the future of our nature and our landscape” is supported by various environmental protection organizations, including Pro Natura and BirdLife.
They argue that Switzerland’s biodiversity is in decline.
Switzerland currently invests around 600 million Swiss francs ($700 million) annually towards biodiversity preservation, but the organizations behind the referendum believe more is needed.
They are asking voters to increase the budget for biodiversity and to expand protected areas.
The Swiss government and parliament oppose the proposal, stating that Switzerland is already taking sufficient measures and warning of potential negative impacts on the economy, agriculture, construction, and energy production.
In addition to the biodiversity referendum, Swiss voters are also likely to reject a government-backed pension financing reform, which has been criticized by unions for potentially reducing pension payments while increasing contributions.
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