Projected results show that Swiss voters have rejected proposals to enhance biodiversity protections and a pensions reform in dual referendums held on Sunday.
Despite Switzerland’s reputation for pristine natural landscapes, concerns over endangered ecosystems led environmentalists to advocate for broader biodiversity protections, a proposal that only garnered 37 percent of votes in favor with a turnout of 45.2 percent, according to provisional results released by federal authorities at 1430 GMT on Sunday.
Additionally, voters turned down a planned reform to the financing of Switzerland’s pension system.
– Proposal for Nature Reform –
The first proposal had support from various environmental protection organizations, such as Pro Natura and BirdLife, who warned of a decline in Switzerland’s biodiversity.
Although the cantons of Basel-City and Geneva supported the proposal, it was ultimately rejected, leading to relief from the Swiss Union for Arts and Crafts who believed the reform could have negatively impacted electricity and food production.
While the right-wing UDC party criticized environmentalists, the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland regarded the outcome as a missed opportunity to preserve natural heritage.
– Biodiversity Investment –
Despite the Swiss government investing approximately 600 million Swiss francs ($700 million) annually in biodiversity preservation, the organizations behind the referendum argued for a boost in the biodiversity budget and expansion of protected areas, aligning with the biodiversity agreement reached in Montreal in 2022.
Last year, Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment reported that only 13.4 percent of the country’s territory was dedicated to biodiversity conservation, highlighting the urgent need for increased protection in threatened natural environments.
The proposal faced opposition from the government and parliament, who asserted that Switzerland was already doing enough and that the proposed measures would harm the economy.
– Pensions Reform Proposal –
Swiss voters also rejected a government-supported reform of pension financing, with a 67.1 percent opposition reported by federal authorities and a turnout rate of 45 percent across all cantons.
The proposed reform aimed to address underfunding in the second pillar of Swiss pensions by increasing contributions from employers and employees, a plan criticized by unions who believed it would decrease pension payments.
The Swiss Trade Union Federation denounced the reform as a “scam”.
