Key facts
- Switzerland's parliament has approved a government plan to build new nuclear power stations.
- This decision reverses a ban on new nuclear plants that was put in place following a 2017 referendum.
- The government argues new nuclear power is necessary for long-term energy supply and to meet net-zero emissions by 2050.
- A coalition of groups, including the Green Party, intends to launch a referendum to challenge the decision.
- The collection of signatures for the referendum will commence this month, requiring 50,000 valid signatures within 100 days.
Switzerland's parliament has approved a government plan to construct new nuclear power stations, reversing a ban that was established after a referendum in 2017. The decision by both the lower and upper houses of parliament aims to secure the country's long-term energy supply and meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050, with the government viewing new nuclear capacity as an 'insurance policy' against potential shortfalls in renewable energy or other climate-friendly solutions.
Energy Minister Albert Rosti emphasized the importance of keeping nuclear power as an option to guarantee the nation's energy supply, particularly in light of global events that have highlighted energy import dependencies. The government has been advocating for the reversal of the ban since 2024.
However, the move is set to face a public vote. A coalition of groups, including the Green Party, has announced its intention to launch a referendum. Green Party president Lisa Mazzone criticized the parliamentary vote, stating it undermines renewable energy development, climate protection, and energy sovereignty. The signature collection for the referendum is slated to begin this month, requiring 50,000 valid signatures within 100 days of the law's publication to trigger the vote.
Switzerland currently operates four nuclear reactors, with the Beznau 1 plant, Europe's oldest functioning reactor, scheduled to cease operations in 2033, and Beznau 2 in 2032. The Gosgen and Leibstadt plants began operating in 1979 and 1984, respectively.