In Switzerland, parliamentarians asked to undergo training on global warming

0

A day like no other is coming to the Swiss Parliament. Monday, May 2, the elected officials will become students again and take a course on global warming and biodiversity in Switzerland. The teachers: the Minister of the Environment, Simonetta Sommaruga, and eight experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

They will explain in particular why it is urgent to act in this country. In a century and a half, temperatures have risen by 2°C in Switzerland compared to an average of 0.9°C worldwide. This training should broaden the horizons of elected officials on how to do politics while taking the climate into consideration. A three-hour debate, including 25 minutes of questions and answers. Rather a lecture than an exchange.

This idea did not happen by itself. It all started with one man: Guillermo Fernandez. Last November, tired of seeing that the Swiss elected officials did not place the climate at the top of the pile of their concerns, he decided to carry out a shock operation. He moved with a sign in front of the Federal Palace in Bern, the seat of Swiss power, and began a hunger strike.

Its demand: that Swiss parliamentarians be trained on the country’s climatic condition and the consequences of global warming. “Who knows and does not act to save our children”he writes on his blog, in short “is not legitimate to decide our future”.

Despite the cold and the rain, Guillermo remains in front of the Palace, seated on a chair, drawing strength from his three children, who have stayed at home. 39 days later and 20 kilos lighter, his request is accepted. And the date of May 2 is announced for this major training.

Parliamentarians who campaign for the climate are obviously happy with this victory. On the other hand, other elected officials denounce the way. Some “faintness” is being felt, with parliamentarians believing they are sufficiently informed. The first Swiss party, the SVP, believes that the debate on the climate challenge already exists but that the “democratic processes are long” and that it is not enough “turn a knob” to get things going.

The green centrist party, Vert’libéral, finds the method “annoying” because Guillermo Fernandez has endangered his health. And then, the sad reality is that the elected officials who do not want to hear the experts this Monday, will not be in the room. “They will be fishing”, quips Guillermo when asked by our correspondent in Switzerland. For now, according to The morningonly a third of parliamentarians registered for the training.


source site-29