Geneva has become the latest Swiss canton to approve proposals urging the government to adapt climate-related regulations and involve the younger generation.
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The Geneva cantonal parliament on Friday overwhelmingly came out in favour of a plan launched by the Greens with the support of left-wing parties. It calls on the government to present an action plan.
The right-wing People’s Party and the Movement Citoyens Genevois group argued that other measures were better suited to face the climate crisis. Speakers notably called for immigration curbs and global action instead of local state intervention.
Many Swiss cantons, cities and towns have already declared a ‘climate emergency’ since February.
Similar moves are also pending in the Swiss parliament.
Critics point out that a declaring a ‘climate emergency’ has largely symbolic value as long as it is not linked to a concrete action plan.
However, the numerous climate protests across Switzerland over the past ten months has built up a momentum and puts pressure on politicians. It is also expected to lead gains for Green parties in Sunday’s parliamentary elections.
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100,000 gather in Bern for climate demo
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Thousands demonstrated in the Swiss capital on Saturday to demand that politicians and individuals take action against climate change.
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Thousands of people took to the streets in the Swiss capital Bern to protest about climate change and call for politicians to do more. swissinfo.ch was there.
Swiss president calls for innovation to tackle climate crisis
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+ How climate change affects Switzerland “Our world needs more technological progress and less ideology,” Maurer told world leaders and activists. As an Alpine country, he noted, Switzerland is particularly affected by climate change. Melting glaciers, reduced snowfall and increased landslides in the mountains are wiping out a part of Swiss identity and tradition,…
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