Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections [Video]

Switzerland may be associated with pristine natural landscapes, but environmentalists sounding the alarm over its endangered ecosystems are urging voters to back broader biodiversity protections in a referendum Sunday.

That proposal appears set to fail, according to opinion polls, while the Swiss are also set to reject a planned reform of the financing of the wealthy Alpine nation’s pension system slammed by unions as a “scam”.

Most people cast their ballots in advance in the popular votes held every couple of months under Switzerland’s direct democratic system and polling stations will only open a few hours Sunday morning.

Early results are expected by mid-afternoon.

The first proposal, entitled “For the future of our nature and our landscape”, has the backing of a number of environmental protection organisations, including Pro Natura and BirdLife.

These warn that Switzerland’s biodiversity “has declined”.

“Switzerland has one of the highest levels of threatened species and environments among the European countries in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation)”, Sarah …