Vote on Pecc in the Grand Council: the economic choice

Context

In brief

• Appeal to the Grand Council on the Pecc
• Economic choice and energy transition
• Reduction of fossil fuels
• 8 billion in energy imports

Key facts

• What: Open letter to the Grand Council for the vote on the Cantonal Energy and Climate Plan
• When: Ahead of next week's vote in Canton Ticino
• Where: Canton Ticino
• Who: Economic, consumer, and environmental organizations including WWF, Aeeticino, Acsi, Federlegno, Swissolar, App, and ProNatura
• Amount: 8 billion francs spent every year to import fossil energy into Switzerland

The economic, consumer, and environmental organizations of Canton Ticino have written directly to all 90 members of the Grand Council ahead of the vote on the Cantonal Energy and Climate Plan (Pecc), scheduled for next week in the Grand Council. The joint appeal is signed by WWF, Aeeticino, Acsi, Federlegno, Swissolar, App, and ProNatura, who are asking for the measure to proceed straight ahead and be approved without delay. In the letter sent to the cantonal parliamentarians, it is emphasized that recent climate events represent a warning bell that cannot be ignored. The heatwave and drought recorded during the summer were an obvious signal prompting the associations to demand decisive and timely political action. The debate on the Cantonal Energy and Climate Plan thus moves to the heart of the Ticino political arena, mobilizing not only the environmentalist front but also local economic and consumer representatives.

Economic and strategic motivations

The central argument put forward by the signatory organizations is not based solely on the need to combat climate change, but emphasizes the strong economic value of the energy transition. According to the associations, accelerating the shift towards renewable sources represents a strategic and advantageous choice that directly benefits households. Reducing fossil fuel consumption does not only mean decreasing polluting emissions, but also implies the ability to invest within Switzerland those billions of francs that currently systematically flow abroad. This change would increase the country's overall energy independence while giving a strong boost to the local economy, employment, and technological innovation. For these reasons, the deputies of the Ticino Grand Council are invited to strongly support the Pecc and the consequent modification of the Energy Law proposed by the Council of State, a regulatory text specifically designed to accelerate the transition towards ecological heating and renewable energy sources. The importation of fossil energies currently represents a colossal expense item for the Confederation, with figures that weigh heavily on the trade balance and national energy security, prompting associations to demand an immediate change of course through the approval of the institutional measures provided for by the cantonal legislative package.

Operational details

The in-depth analysis presented by the organizations that signed the open letter highlights macroeconomic data of considerable importance for understanding the scope of current energy dependence. Switzerland, at present, imports fossil fuels every year for a total estimated expenditure of around 8 billion francs. This massive outflow of capital results in a level of foreign energy dependence that stands at approximately 68%. This structural vulnerability is essentially attributable precisely to fossil fuels, which continue to be 100% imported from external markets. Completing the energy transition means, according to the promoters of the appeal addressed to the Ticino Grand Council members, redirecting the billions of francs that are currently allocated to the import of harmful energy sources towards local resources and productive sectors capable of generating real added value directly in the territory of the Canton of Ticino.

Impacts on productive sectors and local grids

The positive repercussions of this transformation affect multiple sectors of the Ticinese and Swiss economy. District heating networks need to be carefully planned and constantly maintained, while heat pumps and electric vehicles are powered using electricity produced locally in the valleys and on the roofs of buildings. Photovoltaic systems and energy renovation interventions also represent a stable and continuous source of work for installers, industry professionals, and the entire local construction supply chain. Conversely, oil and its derivatives continue to be exclusively imported at a high price, without leaving lasting added value to the cantonal economy. Added to this picture is the factor linked to the evolution of energy costs on the markets. While we are witnessing yet another wave of price increases regarding fossil fuel prices, average data relating to electricity in Switzerland show a downward trend: average prices fell by 10% in 2025 and 4% in 2026, while a further reduction of 4% is already budgeted and planned for the course of 2027 as well, offering a further element of economic advantage in favor of solutions based on renewable electricity.

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Key points

The discussion on the Cantonal Energy and Climate Plan is part of a broader context of climate urgency that does not spare Swiss territory. The arguments submitted to the 90 members of the Grand Council emphasize that in Switzerland climate change is manifesting at twice the speed of the global average. This phenomenon brings growing consequences and damages affecting various strategic areas, including agriculture, public health, biodiversity, and the safety of infrastructure and citizens. Extreme events such as the drought and heatwaves recorded in 2026, as well as the tragic floods and landslides that struck the Maggia Valley and Mesolcina in 2024, constitute dramatic reminders of territorial vulnerability. Faced with these facts, the decision awaiting the cantonal parliament is defined by organizations as a crucial step to assume responsibility for climate mitigation at the regional and cantonal levels.

Next week's vote in the Grand Council therefore represents a fundamental crossroads for defining Ticino's political, environmental, and economic direction for the coming years. The associations that signed the appeal trust in the sensitivity of the deputies so that economic and strategic considerations related to energy independence and territorial protection prevail over partisan resistance. The ecological transition is reaffirmed not as an additional cost for citizens or businesses, but as a structural investment capable of stimulating innovation, supporting the local artisan and industrial fabric, and protecting households from the unpredictable fluctuations of imported fossil fuel markets. To stay constantly updated on the decisions of the Grand Council and the economic and environmental policies affecting the region, consult the in-depth insights on the cost of living and the Ticino context.

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Source: laregione.ch