In a significant shift in policy, the Swiss government has announced plans to overturn its ban on constructing new nuclear power plants. This decision comes amidst escalating geopolitical tensions and mounting concerns about energy security.
The Swiss government, under Energy Minister Albert Roesti, intends to submit a proposal to amend nuclear legislation by the end of 2024. This proposal will then be debated in parliament the following year. Roesti emphasized that the move is crucial for strengthening Switzerland’s energy independence in an increasingly volatile global environment.
“Over the long term, new nuclear power plants are one possible way of making our supply more secure in a geopolitically uncertain time,” Roesti stated at a press conference. He further argued that failing to retain this option would be seen as a betrayal by future generations.
Switzerland’s stance on nuclear energy has evolved over the years. Following the devastating 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, the country decided to gradually phase out atomic energy. In 2017, Swiss voters approved a government plan that included a ban on new nuclear power stations. Subsequently, the Muehleberg nuclear power station was decommissioned at the end of 2019. Three remaining nuclear stations continue to operate.
While addressing the issue of nuclear energy, Roesti also reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling climate change. This comes in response to a ruling by the European Court in April that ordered Switzerland to take more stringent measures to reduce its carbon footprint. However, environmental advocacy groups, such as KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Greenpeace, who initiated the case against Switzerland, remain unconvinced and argue that the country continues to fall short of its climate obligations.
