Package of measures: Environmental experts call for sustainable reconstruction

A Expertise on behalf of Energy-turnaround-yes and Greenpeace Switzerland is intended to show how a climate-friendly package of measures can have a positive impact on rebuilding the economy after the Corona crisis. It recommends a targeted stimulus program 2020/2030 of 16 billion francs and demand support of 15 billion francs.

True Cost 

In this context, "true costs as a central market principle" should be a guiding principle in rebuilding the economy. "With consistent enforcement of true costs, the need for regulation would diminish and the impact of the program would be significantly enhanced," states a Media release of both organizations.

70,000 jobs could be created and Switzerland could be brought back on track with the Paris climate agreement.

The authors propose measures such as mobility pricing, an increase in the CO2 levy to 150 Swiss francs per ton, a greenhouse gas levy for agriculture and an airline ticket levy. In terms of social compatibility, at least half of the revenue from this should be distributed back to the population and the economy.

For the additional financial requirement, estimated at 100 billion Swiss francs, the report proposes the creation of a crisis and structural fund. The non-repayable funds for this should come from "cooperative money creation" by the federal government and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) are to be made available. They should directly benefit the public instead of further inflating the private financial system. This would create confidence and stability.

The right savings regime 

"Compared to a further flooding of the private financial system, the creation of money directly through the channels of the public sector turns out to be a rather inflation-dampening measure," says the head of climate at Greenpeace Switzerland, Georg Klingler. A rigid or "economically and socially damaging austerity regime of the public sector" would be counterproductive after the crisis.