Political mandate for a green economy

The negative effects on the environment of production and consumption are still not sufficiently reflected in the prices of goods and services. This is due to the failure of the market to react adequately – or at all – to the overuse of resources. It thus falls to the State to intervene.

The 2020 report on federal measures for a resource-conserving, sustainable Switzerland (green economy) (Massnahmen des Bundes für eine ressourcenschonende, zukunftsfähige Schweiz (Grüne Wirtschaft)) takes stock of Switzerland's use of resources at home and abroad and the implementation of measures from 2016 to 2019. The measures support independent efforts by the private sector, the science community and society to conserve natural resources. Resource conservation is an issue across all policy areas. These measures are thus to be understood as supplementary to other policies such as climate and energy policy and the Federal Council’s position paper and action plan on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ('zur Verantwortung der Unternehmen fűr Gesellschaft und Umwelt').

Going forward, the focus will increasingly be placed on improving resource efficiency and promoting the circular economy. The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), assisted by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), to submit proposals for a package of measures. Because of the close connection with the parliamentary initiative on strengthening the Swiss circular economy (20.433, 'Schweizer Kreislaufwirtschaft stärken'), the proposals are to be coordinated with the parliamentary debate before being presented – probably towards the end of 2024. Furthermore, the interaction with associated national and international developments must be taken into account, such as those in the EU (Green Deal) and parliamentary requests in Switzerland.

 

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Last modification 22.12.2023

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