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Heat wave: The Greens are calling for rent discounts and heat breaks
In a heat wave plan, the party requires automatic rent reductions and longer breaks at work in the event of high heat. The right already criticizes.
Difficult to work when it is 30 ° C in the office. Greens therefore require longer breaks.
AFPSwitzerland has suffocated in recent days in heat. And these waves of warm will be in the future more and more extreme, which worries the experts. Reason why the Swiss Greens launched a heat wave plan at 26 points. “Cities and agglomerations turn into real furnaces. The heat kills and Switzerland must better protect its population, ”said the president of the Lisa Mazzone party on Sunday.
In their plan, the Greens offer in particular to invest in trees. By 2050, the surface of the treetops in the densely populated areas must increase to 40 %, they advocate. They also suggest reducing the waterproofing of soils and revealing surfaces. And require a right to shade in public space.
The party also requests that the Confederation finances air conditioners if necessary, especially in hospitals, EMS or schools, as teachers claim.
For workers, from 26 ° C, employers should also take measures to protect their health, via longer breaks, reduced hours, even telework. And from 30 ° C, very painful outdoor activities should be adapted. Also at home, the population must be protected against heat. Greens require a 10% reduction in rent if a accommodation is too hot (from 30 ° C in old buildings, and from 25 ° C in recent constructions).
To finance this heat wave plan, the party proposes to integrate climatic criteria in financial equalization or to use for example the national road funds, supplied by the fuels tax, or a possible climate fund. One thing is certain: inaction is not an option. “We build anyway, and planting trees is not so expensive,” concludes the chief of the parliamentary group, Aline Trede.
Already criticism on the right
The UDC does not hide its reluctance to the proposals of the Greens. “We don’t need state paternalism. Everyone can find a shadows ”, criticizes the national councilor Thomas de Courten (UDC/BL) which already considers this heat wave plan too much. “This green activism, on the back of alleged victims of heat, is indecent”. He also doubts that the elderly suffer more than usual from summer heat. His colleague Stefan Müller-Altermatt (C/SO) is more nuanced. “Of course we have to adapt to this new climate reality,” he explains. But he does not see the Confederation as responsible: “A national heat wave plan amounts to short-circuit cities and cantons.” Rather, it is betting on prevention: “We now have a Mediterranean climate in town. The population must be made aware, in particular employers. ”