Swiss investment in Norwegian wind power project opposed
The wind farm encroaches on winter pasture for the reindeer herds of the indigenous Southern Sami people.
Keystone / Heiko Junge
An NGO has filed a complaint against a Swiss energy company for investing in a Norwegian wind power project opposed by the indigenous Sami people.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Swissinfo.ch's India specialist covers a wide range of issues from bilateral relations to Bollywood. He also knows a thing or two about Swiss watchmaking and is partial to the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
On Thursday, the Society for Threatened PeoplesExternal link (STP) filed a complaint with the Swiss National Contact PointExternal link of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) against the BKW energy company. BKW holds shares in Nordic Wind Power DA – a European consortium of investors founded by Credit Suisse Energy Infrastructure Partners – that holds a 40% stake in the joint venture Fosen Wind DA that is implementing the project in the Fosen peninsula in western Norway.
A total of six wind farms will be connected to the grid between 2018 and 2020 as part of this project. Storheia, the site of one of the biggest of these wind farms, is an important winter pasture for the reindeer herds of the indigenous Southern Sami people. STP claims that the loss of these lands to the wind power project would force the last of the reindeer herders to give up their livelihood and culture.
Despite opposition by the Sami and environmental groups as well as ongoing legal proceedings the Storheia wind power plant was completed in the autumn of 2019.
“It is unacceptable that the transition to clean energy occurs at the expense of indigenous communities. This contradicts the principle of climate justice,” said STP campaign coordinator Angela Mattli.
BKW is majority owned by the Swiss canton of Bern. Following discussions with BKW on the issue the canton’s government came to the conclusion that BKW complied with national legislation. Norway allows construction projects to be completed despite ongoing legal proceedings.
When contacted by swissinfo.ch BKW said it was open to dialogue and that it would follow the negotiation procedure if the complaint is taken up by the Swiss National Contact Point of the OECD.
More
More
How easy is it to hold Swiss companies to account abroad?
This content was published on
Swiss citizens may soon vote on whether to make companies liable for their actions abroad. Three stories show the challenges of getting justice.
This content was published on
Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Responsible business initiative heads closer to a national vote
This content was published on
Parliament disagrees over a proposal to hold Swiss-based multinationals accountable for human rights and environmental violations abroad.
Swiss publish human rights guidelines for commodity sector
This content was published on
The Swiss government has published human rights guidelines - claimed to be the first of its kind - for firms operating in the commodity sector.
How do traders ensure due diligence in high-risk countries?
This content was published on
The high number of corruption allegations in the commodities sector raises the question of how traders ensure due diligence in high-risk states.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.