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ZAD de la Colline, Holcim, Switzerland - decision

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In October 2020, activists organized the first ZAD (Zone à Défendre) in Switzerland (ZAD de la Colline du Mormont) in the canton of Vaud. Several hundred people occupied a Holcim opencast mine to protest against open-pit mining for cement production and its impacts on climate and biodiversity. At the end of March 2021, the police evacuated all ZADists and arrested around 145 people. While around 50 were allowed to leave the zone without identity checks and about 25 people could leave after identity checks, approximately 70 people were arrested after having refused to reveal their identities. Most of them underwent identification measures (such as DNA sampling) and body searches. Several individual proceedings followed the evacuation even though Holcim withdrew its complaint. The accused persons who had refused to give their identities were denied their right to oppose the penal order delivered by the Public Ministry and sentenced to unconditional prison terms of two to three months for unlawful entry, prevention of an official act, and contempt of official orders (Arts. 186, 286, 292 CC). 

On appeal up to the Federal Court, the judges overturned these verdicts and allowed the “unknown” activists to oppose their penal order. In the meantime, some of the unknown activists revealed their identity and successfully opposed their DNA profiling. In the trials of the activists whose identities were known to the authorities all were acquitted in the first instance of the charge of unlawful entry (the prosecution maintained the charge despite Holcim's withdrawal of the complaint). Most of the activists were also acquitted of the charge of contempt of official orders. Several people were convicted of preventing an official act. The public prosecutor's office has appealed against several acquittals and the Cantonal Court has overturned some of them. While some proceedings are still ongoing, most of them are over and executive judgments vary from acquittals to (suspended) fines and day-fines.

ZAD de la Colline, Holcim, Switzerland

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

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Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

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Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

A loan is a policy instrument where funds are provided to a borrower with the expectation of repaying the principal plus interest.

Activities of businesses and institutions that provide financial services and products to individuals and organisations.

Activities of industries that extract natural resources, such as mining, oil, and gas, for commercial use.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

woman and genders outside of the gender binary

ZAD de la Colline, Holcim, Switzerland - decision

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance