They had to decide whether to support the Green party-driven “climate justice initiative”, which set the net zero goal for 2030, or a counterproposal from the cantonal parliament, which aimed for 2037. In the end, just over 64% of voters came out in favour of the counterproposal, results on Sunday showed.
By accepting the counterproposal, the canton of Basel City is taking on a clear pioneering role in climate policy throughout Switzerland, writes Keystone-SDA.
It is the first canton or Swiss city to set the net zero goal for 2037. The city of Zurich has for example opted for 2040.
On a national level, Switzerland is aiming to be climate neutral by 2050 – which means the country should not emit more greenhouse gases than can be absorbed naturally or by technical means by that date.
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Swiss government aims for zero-emission policy
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Environment Minister Simonetta Sommaruga has presented government plans to reduce CO2 emissions to zero by 2050.
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Several hundred people join anti-WEF protests in Switzerland
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Several hundred opponents of the World Economic Forum gathered in Graubünden and in the capital Bern on Saturday to take aim in particular at the WEF's high-profile guests.
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Karin Keller-Sutter, who took over the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has made her first official visit abroad as president to Austria.
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The name and logo of the former Credit Suisse headquarters at Paradeplatz 8 in Zurich's financial centre were officially replaced by those of UBS on Friday.
Switzerland urged to reach net zero by 2035 ‘to be fair’
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A study claims that Switzerland should aim to be climate neutral by 2035 instead of 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
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