National Council sets new priorities for the environment, spatial planning and energy
The National Council's Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK-N) has set a decisive course in the environmental and energy sector. The focus was on adapting the right of appeal for smaller residential construction projects in order to enable a fair balance between the parties involved. The regulation of wholesale energy markets and harmonisation with EU standards were also discussed. Important progress was also made in the circular economy, although the motion in favour of non-profit housing construction was rejected. These topics dominated the meetings on 22 and 23 January 2024 in Bern.
The National Council’s Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK-N) has decided to restrict the right of appeal of environmental protection organisations in smaller residential construction projects. The amendment to the Federal Act on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage aims to adapt the legal framework for small and medium-sized residential construction projects in order to equalise unequal financial resources between parties.
In addition, the Commission has begun discussing the Federal Act on Supervision and Transparency in Wholesale Energy Markets in order to ensure appropriate supervision and transparency. As part of the discussion on an electricity market agreement with the EU, the Commission discussed the economic importance of a secure electricity supply and the need to harmonise Swiss regulations with those of the EU.
In the area of the circular economy, the Commission resolved most of the differences with the Council of States, particularly with regard to the relaxation of the municipal waste monopoly. However, there is still disagreement on the question of whether unsold biogenic products should be unpackaged.
Further discussions by the committee included the partial revision of the Environmental Protection Act, which focuses on noise protection and the remediation of contaminated sites. The motion “Combating the housing shortage with densification and non-profit housing construction” was rejected by the committee, as it is of the opinion that the existing legal basis is already sufficient. A postulate on optimising the use of energy wood was also submitted.
The committee meetings on 22 and 23 January 2024 were chaired by National Councillor Christian Imark and were partly held in the presence of Federal Councillor Albert Rösti in Bern.