Swiss voters have approved a new climate legislation focused on reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The government underscores the need for this measure to secure energy supply and protect the environment, as the Swiss Alps' glaciers are rapidly depleting.
The legislation mandates a shift from reliance on imported oil and gas to utilization of renewable energy sources.
During Sunday's referendum, the green energy initiative was endorsed by 59.1% of voters. Detractors contended that the measures would inflate energy costs.
Except for the right-leaning Swiss People's Party (SVP), most of Switzerland's prominent parties backed the legislation. The SVP, opposed to the government's proposals, instigated the referendum.
Switzerland currently imports around three-fourths of its energy, with all consumed oil and natural gas being foreign-sourced.
The climate legislation commits 2bn Swiss francs ($2.2bn; £1.7bn) over a ten-year period to incentivize the substitution of oil or gas heating systems with eco-friendly alternatives and allocates SFr1.2bn to promote green innovation in businesses.
The urgency of these measures is underscored by the significant impact of climate change on the Alps' glaciers, which lost one-third of their ice volume between 2001 and 2022.
Noted Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss applauded the "powerful message" conveyed by Sunday's vote, expressing his delight on Twitter that "the arguments of climate science were heard".
Valerie Piller Carrard, a Socialist Party member of parliament, hailed the move as "a significant stride for future generations".
In a separate referendum, voters also overwhelmingly endorsed plans to impose a global minimum tax of 15% on multinational corporations, with 78.5% in favor.
In 2021, Switzerland was among nearly 140 nations that committed to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) agreement to establish a minimum tax rate for large enterprises.
Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter applauded the "very strong acceptance rate" for the proposal to amend the constitution, enabling Switzerland to participate in the agreement.
Sunday's referendums saw a participation rate of about 42%.