Faced with the climate emergency, the political majority in Switzerland lacks solidarity, criticized Lisa Mazzone on Saturday during the assembly of party delegates. The Greens president criticizes the right for “hiding behind a ridiculous law on CO2.”
Switzerland stands out in finding loopholes from its international climate obligations, laments Lisa Mazzone, according to the written version of her speech. Addressing delegates gathered in Basel, she denies buying “certificates for cheap reduction projects abroad”, instead investing in Switzerland to quickly exit fossil fuels.
“The Switzerland of this political majority is neither united nor responsible at the global level, nor within the country,” says the Geneva woman.
Costs of inaction
Returning to the bad weather in Valais and Ticino, Ms Mazzone calls for support for mountain regions to adapt to the new reality. Because with these Alpine regions, Switzerland is warming twice as fast as the global average. And to recognize the organization Avenir Suisse, a “neoliberal bulldozer” that recommends the abandonment of certain Alpine valleys.
Bad weather, in Valais and Ticino alone, damaged private buildings between 160 and 200 million, excluding Val Mesolcina (GR) and Brienz (BE). Damage to public infrastructure will run into the billions.
The Federation itself puts forward the figure of 40 billion per year for every year we do nothing. “These are the costs of inaction”, much more than ambitious measures to protect the climate, emphasizes the president of the Greens.
Bulwark against holds
With heat wave events, global warming also challenges cities. A healthy environment is not a privilege but a human right. “This was established by the European Court of Human Rights,” recalls Ms Mazzone. “With all due respect to the lawyers of the Council of States.”
The president calls for a bulwark against the populist right, in Switzerland, Europe and around the world. She is urging Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis to finally commit to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution.
In Switzerland too, with the appeal against AVS21 and the increase in the retirement age for women, it is a question of restoring trust in democracy, according to Lisa Mazzone. In September, the Greens will be saying again about a reduction in pensions, including in the second column.