Swiss voters reject plan to boost biodiversity, vote against pension reform

NEWS WIRES

21 September 2024 at 11:07 pm·1-min read

Switzerland's biodiversity was dealt a blow on Sunday when voters rejected a plan to protect the country's endangered ecosytems. Environmentalists have repeatedly warned that the country's biodiversity is declining but the government said that the proposed measures would severely impact Switzerland's economy, agriculture, construction and energy production. Voters also rejected a pension reform plan backed by the government.

Swiss voters rejected proposals to bolster biodiversity protections as well as a pensions reform in twin referendums on Sunday, according to projected results.

Switzerland may be associated with pristine natural landscapes, but environmentalists have sounded the alarm over its endangered ecosystems and were urging voters to back broader biodiversity protections.

The proposal failed, however, according to projections published by polling institute gfs.bern after the close of the Sunday morning polls -- in line with earlier opinion polls.

Voters also rejected a planned reform of the financing of the wealthy Alpine nation's pension system slammed by unions as a "scam", the projections indicated.

The first proposal, entitled "For the future of our nature and our landscape", had the backing of a number of environmental protection organisations, including Pro Natura and BirdLife.

They warn that Switzerland's biodiversity "has declined".

The organisations behind Sunday's referendum said that is not enough.

(AFP)

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