Council of States Wants to Stop Insect Die-Off in Switzerland

The Environmental Committee of the Council of States (Urek-S) is demanding measures against the insect die-off.

It unanimously recommends adopting a corresponding motion from the National Council. The Federal Council also recognises the need for action.

The motion calls on the Federal Council to safeguard the action plans on biodiversity, bee health, and plant protection products. In addition, based on scientific studies, it should be determined without delay what measures need to be taken against the insect die-off in the short, medium, and long term. New production methods in agriculture are also to be taken into account.

The motion was submitted by the National Council's Committee on the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (Urek-N) and adopted by the lower chamber without opposition. The Council of States is now next in line.

Its committee is concerned about the decline in insect populations in Switzerland. It emphasises that insects are central to functioning ecosystems.

Following adoption of the motion, an interdisciplinary overall assessment would need to be carried out that takes the various interrelationships into account, the committee noted. This would make it possible to identify the most effective measures against the insect die-off and pursue them as a priority.

The Federal Council shares the view that measures against the insect die-off are necessary, as it states in its response to the motion.