Topic:

Should governments require the economy to operate within the Earth's environmental limits?

Should governments require the economy to operate within the Earth's environmental limits?
AI-generated illustration

VoteWorld community

  • Yes 0% (0)
  • No 0% (0)

VoteWorld community: 0

Official result — Switzerland

  • Yes 36.4% (819770)
  • No 63.6% (1430273)

Official result — Switzerland: 2250043

Official Swiss vote totals are shown separately from live VoteWorld votes. Official source: https://swissvotes.ch/vote/605.00. Imported: 2026-07-23.

More info

The initiative wanted Switzerland to make its economy much more resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable. Its main target was that by 2050, Switzerland’s use of natural resources should be low enough that, if everyone lived the same way, humanity would need no more than one Earth.

It did not specify exactly how to achieve this. Parliament could have introduced measures such as:
stricter recycling and waste rules,
more efficient use of raw materials,
incentives or regulations for businesses,
other environmental policies.

Supporters said:
We consume too many natural resources.
The economy should become more circular and efficient.
Acting early would reduce environmental damage.

Opponents said:
The target was too ambitious and unrealistic.
It could require extensive regulations and increase costs for businesses and consumers.
It might hurt jobs and economic growth.

Seed source: Swissvotes federal popular vote dataset.
Swissvotes page: https://swissvotes.ch/vote/605.00
Official result data: https://bk.admin.ch/de/details-volksinitiativen?voteNumber=605
Vote date: 2016-09-25
Original Swissvotes English title: Initiative «For a Green Economy»
Original German title: Initiative «Grüne Wirtschaft»
Swissvotes short-description title: Schweizerinnen und Schweizer wollen weiterhin auf grossem Fuss leben dürfen
Original French title: Initiative «Economie verte»
Année Politique Suisse description: https://anneepolitique.swiss/prozesse/25217
easyvote explainer video (German): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YoIypyXeC0
easyvote explainer video (French): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyI0ehjza0k
BFS result map (German): https://mapexplorer.bfs.admin.ch/?obs=politic&lang=de#c=indicator&i=vp20160925.prop_oui_605_0
BFS result map (French): https://mapexplorer.bfs.admin.ch/?obs=politic&lang=fr#c=indicator&i=vp20160925.prop_oui_605_0
Official chronology (French): https://bk.admin.ch/fr/details-initiatives-populaires?voteNumber=605