Swiss voters support climate bill as scientists warn about melting glaciers

Swiss citizens voted in favor of a climate bill aiming to curb greenhouse gas emissions, as concerns over melting glaciers grow.

The vote: 59.1% of Swiss voters supported the climate bill, while 40.9% voted against.
* The bill requires Switzerland to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050.
* Over 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.357 billion) will be set aside to help companies and homeowners transition away from fossil fuels.

Concerns about glaciers: The referendum was inspired by scientists and environmentalists worried about Switzerland’s glaciers melting at an alarming rate.
* Swiss glaciers experienced record melting in 2021, losing more than 6% of their volume.
* Glaciologists like Matthias Huss from the Swiss Institute for Technology in Zurich highlight these dramatic changes on social media to raise awareness.

Response to the decision: Greenpeace Switzerland welcomed the referendum result.
* Georg Klingler, a climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Switzerland, said that anchoring net-zero emissions in law will provide better planning security and lead the country towards an exit from fossil fuels.

View original article on NPR

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