What if every nation on earth agreed to keep its usage of resources at a sustainable level? Switzerland held a revolutionary referendum, which asked citizens to vote on whether the country would commit to reaching an ecological impact level of zero by the year 2050, in late September of 2016. Known as the Green Economy Referendum, this piece of legislation would have required Switzerland to reduce its consumption of resources by two-thirds over the next 34 years.

Short-Term Loss, Long-Term Win

Switzerland’s Green Economy Referendum was ultimately rejected with only 36 percent voting in favor of it. However, the measure remains a big step in the right direction despite its defeat. This referendum marks the first time in history that a nation-wide sustainability mandate has been up for debate. The Swiss referendum will likely resurface at a later date, and other countries will also look at Switzerland and consider creating their own sustainability legislation.

Why Did the Measure Fail?

Just a couple of months before it was voted on, the Green Economy Referendum was favored in the polls. A large campaign was then launched to defeat the measure, claiming that a sustainable economy would bring higher taxes, cold showers and even the end of imported cocoa for making famous Swiss chocolate. The negativity surrounding the measure combined with official opposition from the Swiss Council of Ministers caused support to fall quickly.

What Would a Green Economy Look Like?

A green, sustainable economy like the one in the Swiss referendum would require businesses and homes to reduce their ecological footprint to zero. This means that resources cannot be used in excess of their production and that a country’s consumption of the earth’s resources must be in proportion to its population. Currently, industrialized nations like Switzerland use many times their “fair share” of the earth’s natural resources.

Why Do We Need a Green Economy?

A century ago, the disproportionate usage of resources was not too much of a problem because only a small part of the world’s population lived in these industrialized nations. Today, more countries are becoming industrialized and putting a strain on the world’s resources. This level of consumption is unsustainable and will eventually result in a world-wide scarcity of vital resources that can lead to increased poverty, hunger, war and suffering.

Looking Forward

Switzerland’s Green Economy Referendum may be remembered as the first step toward a new way of living. Although the measure failed, it is significant that more than one-third of the Swiss citizens who voted were in favor of it. The city of Geneva, home to many international companies, actually approved the measure by a narrow 51 percent. If similar sustainability mandates can be adopted not only by Switzerland but also by the world’s largest resource users, such as the United States and China, the health of the environment and availability of resources will dramatically improve.