Switzerland's circle squaring

On September 23 last year, in a national referendum, environmentalists won the right to a new Energy Article in the Swiss Constitution, and anti-nuclear forces triumphed again by imposing a 10-year moratorium on new nuclear power stations. The dilemma now facing the energy minister how to ensure Swiss prosperity while working within the new conditions restricting energy use. A Swiss Action Programme ''Energy 2000'' has been drawn up. The Programme closely corresponds to one drawn up by the four parties of the national coalition government. Its objectives seem modest: stabilisation at 1990 levels of the total fossil energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 2000, with reduction thereafter; slowing the growth of electricity consumption in an attempt to stabilise demand by 2000; a ''significant increase'' in the contribution of renewable energy and hydropower; and refurbishment and life extension of nuclear plant. (author)