1. Which certificates and emission credits can be traded and counted toward the emission reduction objective?

In principle, any emission credit issued under the Kyoto Protocol can be traded nationally and internationally. There are no limits on traded quantities or types of emission credits. However, starting on 1 January 2013, a limited number of certificates can be counted toward the emission reduction objective of companies in Switzerland.

2. Who can hold an account in the National Emissions Trading Registry?

Any natural or legal person can open an account in the registry. A distinction is made between those who have received emission allowances according to the National Allocation Plan and who, as a result, have been exempted from the CO2 tax, and all other natural and legal persons who wish to trade emission credits.

3. How do you open an account in the National Emissions Trading Registry?

To open an account, the request form has to be properly filled out and sent by e-mail. A second copy must be signed and sent by registered mail along with the required documents to: Federal Office of the Environment FOEN, Climate Unit, Registry administration, 3003 Bern.

Once the fully completed request and the required documents have been received, each authorised person will receive a unique user name directly by e-mail and a password by registered mail.

4. Who can request a Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for CDM projects?

5. When are the emission allowances issued to an operator account?

Companies and persons who receive emission allowances must open an operator account. As a rule, emission allowances are issued annually to this account by 28 February of the year in progress. However, an exception will be made for 2013, as the allowances for both 2013 and 2014 will be issued only in the spring of 2014.

6. How and when must emission credits be surrendered?

All installation owners (i.e. all companies that have been exempted from the CO2 tax) must transfer enough emission credits from their holding account (operator account) to the surrendering account before 30 April of the following year (e.g. by 30 April 2014 for emissions from 2013). The credits surrendered must correspond to the effectively verified emissions from the preceding year.

7. What are transactions?

The term "transaction" covers all movements (domestic and foreign) between two different accounts. This includes the surrendering and cancellation of emission credits.

8. Are the transactions carried out in the National Emissions Trading Registry secure? 

All data is transferred using a 128-bit code in accordance with the recognised standard for Internet banking and credit card use in the Internet. This guarantees the confidentiality of the information. SSL will be used for the connection between the user and the registry and between the registry and the ITL. All data in the National Emissions Trading Registry is automatically backed up on the server.