In a national referendum, the Swiss have spoken out in a clear majority against a massive overhaul of the economy for greater sustainability. According to preliminary results from the GfS Bern Institute, only 30% of voters supported the proposal, while 70% rejected it on Sunday.
The plans aimed to transform the economy so that the country would only produce and import as much as the natural environment could absorb. The economy was to be bound to absolute sustainability, particularly with regard to energy and resource consumption as well as the release of pollutants. Concrete measures such as bans were not included in the initiative.
The Federal Council and Parliament had recommended rejecting the initiative. Critics had argued, among other things, that higher prices were at risk and that the economy as a whole would be weakened.