letter to the editor
The cost of doing nothing to protect the climate
To vote in Nidwalden on the climate initiative on March 12th.
The SVP already had it in the vote on the CO2-Law successfully demonstrated: Put the price tag for climate protection in the foreground, then people will decide against effective environmental policy in favor of their wallets. Now the cantonal parties – FDP and the center – are taking the same line. They claim in ads that the climate initiative we’re voting on in March is driving up food and consumer prices.
Climate protection costs. This is true. But we should be able to assume that the bourgeois parties, which often claim to have special economic expertise, have read a little of the economic literature. And many international studies have shown that the costs of doing nothing are far more expensive than investing in climate protection now.
Of course, an ambitious achievement of the 1.5 degree target puts a strain on the state budget. But the future generations, on whom we are burdening our unchecked burning of fossil fuels, will not have to dig nearly as deep into their pockets if we act now. The question of climate protection and investments is also about solidarity with those born later.
Nidwalden acted with foresight in 2005, for example. Thanks to cantonal investments in flood protection, including hazard maps that had already been drawn up, we were better equipped than Obwalden to face the storm of the century. The lesson from this: whoever invests now saves a umpteen amount of money, which would otherwise have to be spent later on overcoming the climate crisis.
In addition, the local economy will benefit from the construction of new sunroofs and heat pumps and better insulated houses. When the FDP and Mitte now bring up the financial hardships of wealthy families, it should be remembered that the text of the initiative expressly calls for the measures to be designed in a socially responsible manner.
Delf Bucher, Green District Administrator Buochs
