The Swiss agricultural association of farmers also rejects the new proposal from the Swiss government to protect drinking water by reducing chemical pesticides in agriculture. The government had previously weakened a proposal after it was recently rejected in a popular referendum.
Swiss farmers still believe that other sectors must also contribute to limiting air and soil pollution. They advocate for a 10% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus instead of the currently proposed 20%. Additionally, they consider that the 3.5% area designated for more biodiversity on arable land has no reducing effect.
The farmers’ association agrees with the goal of the government plan (cleaner environment, protection of soil and drinking water), but not with the way the government in Bern wants to achieve it. From the perspective of the ‘agriculture chamber,’ the template needs corrections.
The law rejected in June was part of the plan to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement. The Swiss government aims to halve CO2 emissions by 2030, partly through taxes on industrial emissions, building renovations, gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and air travel.
At the same time, a referendum was held on reducing the use of agricultural pesticides. Because many Swiss felt the burdens were not fairly distributed, neither proposal gained a majority.
The Swiss government has now submitted a slightly revised proposal which, according to the Agriculture Chamber (Laka), still does not address the earlier criticism regarding the distribution of burdens. Again, almost exclusively the agricultural sector is affected, it is said.