“No business on a planet in distress”: the committee of the environmental responsibility initiative, put to the vote on February 9, launched its campaign on Thursday. He wants Switzerland to only use resources that the Earth can sustainably support.
The demand is self-evident in view of current natural disasters, such as floods or melting glaciers, said Magdalena Erni, co-president of the Young Greens, to the media in Bern. National councilor Christophe Clivaz (Vert-es/VS) for his part spoke of “fewer goods and more links”.
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New economic system
National Councilor Hasan Candan (PS/LU) criticized the fact that large companies only seek to maximize profits, to the detriment of the environment and the population. And to advocate for an economic system that ensures equitable distribution of natural resources and a polluter pays principle that works.
“If we do not act now, costs linked to climate, environment, biodiversity and health will reach 15 to 20% of GDP by 2050,” warned Hasan Candan.
We must make the difference between comfort and quality, noted Yves Batardon, for Uniterre and the Association of Small Farmers.
Instead of being firefighters, condemned to trying to put out health fires one after the other, we want to be able to prevent these impacts as quickly as possible.
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To feel safe, health is also an important element, added Valérie D’Acremont, professor of global health. She highlighted the impact of climate change on health.
“Instead of being firefighters, condemned to trying to put out health fires one after the other, we want to be able to prevent these impacts as quickly as possible,” she declared. “No economy, no matter how rich, can function if its workers are not healthy.”
Ecological landmarks
The popular initiative “for a responsible economy within the limits of the planet” (initiative for environmental responsibility) wants to enshrine respect for planetary resources in the Constitution. The Swiss economy, including its imports, must reintegrate within the earth’s natural limits within ten years.
These limits are ecological benchmarks that indicate how far humanity can push its activities without risking irreversibly unbalancing the Earth and reaching points of no return, explains the committee. These are thresholds defined by scientists in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, water use, land use as well as water, air and soil pollution.
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