Countries
around the world are adopting renewable energy solutions as a measure
of
protecting themselves against the effects of global warming and climate change.
The goals further include promoting an increase in sustainable ecosystems, and
a government that actively enforces green policies. A country known for
breathtaking nature and scenic views, continuously finds itself leading the way
to an environmentally green society. Switzerland successfully has mastered
increasing their natural resources, along with maintaining immaculate
environmental conditions, and biodiversity. The Swiss government has tackled
dilemmas such as unhygienic water resources and air pollution so effectively,
that they have become a role model for other countries. Switzerland’s success
is a direct reflection of a government and its people actively working together
to achieve remarkable success in creating a greener society.
Environmental protection for
Switzerland has been tradition, dating back to 1914, when the nation created
the oldest national Alpine park, the first in the Alps and in Central Europe.
Today, there is strong legislation to create another twenty parks throughout
Switzerland. This country’s water resources are also used for a variety of
purposes, and are monitored for overuse and pollution by the Federal Office for
the Environment. Protection of waterways is inscribed in the Swiss
Constitution. As a result, the drinking water that comes out of Swiss taps is
as pure as bottled mineral water, and five hundred times cheaper.
The capital of Switzerland is Bern,
where buses display a huge white leaf logo notifying the public that they are
powered by methane. The fuel cost is forty percent lower than standard diesel
oil, and the methane is produced from sewage plants. The Swiss government has
proposed legislation to lower taxes on fuels that produce fewer harmful
emissions, and abolish taxes completely on fuels from renewable resources. In
order to further fight air pollution, the Swiss government has required all
diesel cars to be fitted with particle filters. Whole towns are even designated
as walking towns with no gas vehicles allowed. Switzerland also promotes
buildings that use eco-friendly materials because they consume twenty-five
percent less energy than ordinary buildings. The government issues a label that
is proudly displayed, that certifies a building as energy saving.
Switzerland is a true leader in
government enforced recycling. Recyclable items are required to be divided into
bins according to colors, such as white, brown, or green. It is required by law
to purchase special trash bags for garbage, and fines are enforced as much as
$170, if recyclables and trash are not separated according to government
standards. As an incentive the Swiss government charges a tax on households
based on the volume of trash they put out to collect. The intention is to
recycle more items and produce less trash.
Perhaps Switzerland’s greatest green
society accomplishment is yet to come. The Swiss government has made a decision
to phase out nuclear power completely over the next few decades. This requires
an extreme reduction of energy and electricity consumption. Switzerland and its
people will have to rethink they way they consume energy and find other means
of relying on alternative sources in the future. One of the federal
government’s goals is the expansion of Switzerland’s hydro-power, its most
important and longest serving source of renewable energy.
This country is a symbol of what can be achieved
globally, and sets the highest bar for others to follow. Switzerland’s
achievements and severe measures in environmental green standards exist because
they are actively respected in their society’s daily lives. A new country would
be able to refer to these ideals and create a society that would not have the
burden of reversing careless damage and neglect. The citizens would accept its
government’s laws from the beginning to ensure that a clean environment exists for
themselves, and generations to follow.
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