On 29 November 2020, the Swiss people voted in favour of an initiative to hold companies liable in civil court for damages created throughout the supply chain of their products. If a company or one of its suppliers pollutes the environment or uses child labour, the company could be sued in civil court. Nevertheless, the initiative won’t become law since it needed not just a majority of the popular vote but also the majority of cantons (states) to approve it. For the first time in 65 years, an initiative won the popular majority but failed to pass the hurdle of the “Ständemehr”.
The rise of ESG litigation
The rise of ESG litigation
The rise of ESG litigation
On 29 November 2020, the Swiss people voted in favour of an initiative to hold companies liable in civil court for damages created throughout the supply chain of their products. If a company or one of its suppliers pollutes the environment or uses child labour, the company could be sued in civil court. Nevertheless, the initiative won’t become law since it needed not just a majority of the popular vote but also the majority of cantons (states) to approve it. For the first time in 65 years, an initiative won the popular majority but failed to pass the hurdle of the “Ständemehr”.