Summary

Federal Councillor Albert Rösti advocates for solution-oriented collaboration between nature conservation, infrastructure, and the energy sector. Instead of ideological confrontation, partnership-based cooperation across administrative levels and interest groups is needed. Three practical examples demonstrate that landscape protection and utilization can be achieved simultaneously.

Persons

  • Albert Rösti (Federal Councillor, Minister of Environment, Transport and Energy)

Topics

  • Nature conservation and infrastructure development
  • Federal collaboration
  • Energy transition and biodiversity
  • Spatial planning and stakeholder management

Clarus Lead

Switzerland faces the central challenge of preserving its unique landscapes while expanding infrastructure. Federal Councillor Rösti emphasizes that this classic conflict of objectives can be solved through solution-oriented cooperation instead of ideological confrontation. The strategy relies on early involvement of all actors – from environmental organizations to the business sector – as planning partners rather than negotiating partners. This prevents blockades, saves time, and creates sustainable solutions.

Detailed Summary

Rösti illustrates his approach with three concrete projects. The Nant de Drances Pumped-Storage Power Plant combines energy production with nature conservation through 15 ecological replacement measures and underground construction. Environmental organizations were involved early – not just in the final stage. The BelpmoosSolar project at Bern Airport demonstrates how photovoltaics, aviation, and nature conservation can be reconciled through spatial allocation: valuable dry meadows remain protected, while solar installations are developed on less sensitive areas.

The most ambitious example is the Schwamendingen Underpass in Zurich. The covered national highway reduces noise and emissions, while a new park on the roof creates green space and biodiversity. This project shows that three objectives can be achieved simultaneously: mobility, biodiversity, and quality of life. The decisive factor was political will at all federal levels and impetus from the population.

Rösti emphasizes: cooperation does not merely mean compromises, but rather thinking together from the beginning. There is a need for "bridge builders" willing to question their own positions. The holistic view – nature conservation, energy, mobility, settlement as interconnected issues rather than opposites – creates room for action.

The federal government creates framework conditions through the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and the Swiss Landscape Concept. Concrete implementation is the responsibility of cantons, municipalities, companies, and organizations on the ground.

Key Statements

  • Conflicts of objectives are solvable through early partnership-based cooperation, not through ideological confrontation
  • Planning partnership instead of negotiation prevents blockades and saves time and resources
  • Holistic view of interconnected issues (energy, mobility, nature conservation, settlement) creates synergies
  • Federal collaboration with clear political will at all levels is a prerequisite for implementation
  • Three practical examples demonstrate: nature conservation and infrastructure development can be achieved simultaneously

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: How were the success metrics of the three projects measured? Are there independent evaluations of actual biodiversity increases, or is the assessment primarily based on planning objectives?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Which interest groups were not involved or only involved late in the example projects? Were there cases where environmental organizations abandoned their positions – and on what basis?

  3. Causality: Is early stakeholder involvement actually the cause of project success, or are other factors (financing, political priority, technical feasibility) more decisive? How many similarly structured projects nevertheless failed?

  4. Feasibility: How can cantons and municipalities with limited resources permanently establish such resource-intensive cooperation processes? What incentive mechanisms or financing instruments does the federal government envision?

  5. Scalability: Does this cooperation approach also work for more conflict-laden topics (e.g., wind power expansion in nature reserves) or for projects with stronger economic conflicts of interest?

  6. Risks: Is there a danger that early stakeholder involvement leads to delays or dilution of conservation objectives? How are minimum standards ensured?

Source List

Primary Source: Speech by Federal Councillor Albert Rösti at the BAFU Conference "Nature and Landscape – Impact Through Collaboration" – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/r2aVOWxHZvd9_5APqO1tX

Verification Status: ✓ March 19, 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: March 19, 2026