The lower house of Switzerland's parliament has approved a proposal to phase out the use of nuclear power in the country by 2034.

The plan calls for existing power plants to be shut down when their current licenses to operate expire. Lawmakers also agreed to prohibit any replacement nuclear plants from being built.

The government has recommended closing down the country's nuclear energy plants amid growing anti-nuclear sentiment on the part of Swiss citizens.

Switzerland's upper house of parliament must also approve the measure.

Nuclear power currently supplies around 40 percent of Switzerland's energy needs, while hydroelectric power supplies almost all the rest.

Earlier this week, Germany's Cabinet approved a plan to phase out the country's 17 nuclear plants by 2022, making Germany the first major industrial power to give up atomic power and rely entirely on other sources of energy.

The measure would also boost investment in renewable energies.