Should governments tax energy use to reduce environmental damage?

Switzerland voted on whether to introduce an energy tax to encourage lower energy consumption and reduce environmental damage. Most of the revenue would have been returned to households and businesses rather than used for general government spending. Supporters argued it would promote cleaner energy and reduce pollution, while opponents feared higher energy costs and negative effects on the economy. Voters rejected the proposal.

Seed source: Swissvotes federal popular vote dataset.
Swissvotes page: https://swissvotes.ch/vote/466.00
Official result data: https://bk.admin.ch/de/details-referenden-und-weitere-erlasse?voteNumber=466
Vote date: 2000-09-24
Original Swissvotes English title: Energielenkungsabgabe für die Umwelt
Original German title: Energielenkungsabgabe für die Umwelt
Swissvotes keyword/additional content: Gegenentwurf zur zurückgezogenen «Energie-Umwelt-Initiative»
Swissvotes short-description title: Trotz Gegenvorschlag – Nein zur ökologischen Steuerreform
Original French title: Redevance incitative sur l'énergie en faveur de l'environnement
Année Politique Suisse description: https://anneepolitique.swiss/prozesse/19487
BFS result map (German): https://mapexplorer.bfs.admin.ch/?obs=politic&lang=de#c=indicator&i=vp20000924.prop_oui_466_0
BFS result map (French): https://mapexplorer.bfs.admin.ch/?obs=politic&lang=fr#c=indicator&i=vp20000924.prop_oui_466_0
Official chronology (French): https://bk.admin.ch/fr/details-referendums-et-autres-actes?voteNumber=466