by A majority of the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, recently agreed to raise the tax on fuel and introduce a tax on flights. The plan was accepted by 37 of the 41 members who voted, according to 20 Minutes. © Sergio Brunetti | Dreamstime.comTo honour its commitment to the Paris climate agreement, Switzerland needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% between now and 2030. Early in 2019, a similar plan found no clear majority in parliament or the executive. This new plan includes a flight tax of between CHF 30 and CHF 120 that would vary depending on the class and distance of the flight. Private flights would be taxed at CHF 500. Speaking for the commission behind the plan, Damian Müller said the tax must be sufficient to reduce the number of economy class passengers
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A majority of the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, recently agreed to raise the tax on fuel and introduce a tax on flights. The plan was accepted by 37 of the 41 members who voted, according to 20 Minutes.
To honour its commitment to the Paris climate agreement, Switzerland needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% between now and 2030.
Early in 2019, a similar plan found no clear majority in parliament or the executive.
This new plan includes a flight tax of between CHF 30 and CHF 120 that would vary depending on the class and distance of the flight. Private flights would be taxed at CHF 500. Speaking for the commission behind the plan, Damian Müller said the tax must be sufficient to reduce the number of economy class passengers travelling in Europe.
Some of the money collected would be paid to the population and some of it to a climate fund.
If the plan is accepted by the rest of the government, fuel prices would rise by up to 10 cents a litre from 2024 and by 12 cents a litre by 2025. Tax on heating oil would rise as high CHF 210 per tonne of CO2.
Parliament will look at the proposal after the federal election on 20 October 2019.
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