Indicator Climate

Greenhouse gas emissions

In Switzerland, the overall impact of human activities on the climate is, to a very large extent, determined by the quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in response to energy needs. At present, transport is the most significant source of CO2 emissions in Switzerland, followed by industry and buildings. Agriculture is the main source of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions.

Assessment of the state
poor poor
Assessment of the trend
unsatisfactory unsatisfactory
Target 2020: 42.965382925084 GHG emissions 2020: 43.3989632561594 GHG emissions 2019: 46.0852359637482 GHG emissions 2018: 46.3620124621328 GHG emissions 2017: 47.8662075450743 GHG emissions 2016: 48.7446054265318 GHG emissions 2015: 48.466866349468 GHG emissions 2014: 48.9615408669569 GHG emissions 2013: 52.9025973502103 GHG emissions 2012: 52.0247774500373 GHG emissions 2011: 50.6819877898299 GHG emissions 2010: 54.803546961863 GHG emissions 2009: 53.1676376982208 GHG emissions 2008: 54.6285227420155 GHG emissions 2007: 53.2158123460082 GHG emissions 2006: 55.1341121747761 GHG emissions 2005: 55.4441430877444 GHG emissions 2004: 54.8053455155462 GHG emissions 2003: 54.1890931382136 GHG emissions 2002: 53.1201060336694 GHG emissions 2001: 54.6228725587856 GHG emissions 2000: 53.0988036782768 GHG emissions 1999: 53.8024988287112 GHG emissions 1998: 53.975410943086 GHG emissions 1997: 52.4266933382452 GHG emissions 1996: 53.5996086833495 GHG emissions 1995: 52.9144692475246 GHG emissions 1994: 52.0027641579956 GHG emissions 1993: 53.0255206033447 GHG emissions 1992: 55.6014587615539 GHG emissions 1991: 55.8609863884261 GHG emissions 1990: 53.9669456435253

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Federal Office for the Environment: Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Target 2020: 20 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2020: 19.1825637687907 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2019: 14.1801937360368 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2018: 13.6647812623225 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2017: 10.8636731004203 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2016: 9.22792285562056 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2015: 9.74512784084164 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2014: 8.82394624402809 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2013: 1.48492113554871 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2012: 3.11959506510751 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2011: 5.62013446959048 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2010: -2.05502227535002 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2009: 0.991363690464153 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2008: -1.72909262945149 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2007: 0.901652986949353 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2006: -2.67059995302812 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2005: -3.24793871088347 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2004: -2.05837153732995 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2003: -0.910787966878202 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2002: 1.07987703227302 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2001: -1.71857087297134 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 2000: 1.1195462229482 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1999: -0.190873051603746 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1998: -0.512869540197336 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1997: 2.37114834591208 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1996: 0.186948448138746 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1995: 1.46281331932102 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1994: 3.16058816015717 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1993: 1.25601377403222 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1992: -3.54089154851742 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1991: -4.02418321867064 Reduction of GHG emissions compared to base year 1990: -0.497105481425075

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Federal Office for the Environment: Greenhouse Gas Inventory
  • Database
Comment

In 2020, Switzerland's greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 43.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This represents a 19% reduction relative to the 1990 base year. Under the current CO2 Act, Switzerland has to reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 relative to 1990. Based on the 2020 greenhouse gas inventory, Switzerland thus narrowly missed its national climate target, despite the measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the warm winter and the accountable sink (see Fact sheet) resulting from the CO2 storage by Swiss forests and harvested wood products (0.3 million tonnes of CO2).

Developments differed from sector to sector: at 32%, transport accounted for the largest proportion of total emissions in 2020. Transport volumes fell massively in the wake of the pandemic. Emissions were down by almost 9% compared to the previous year and were 8% below the 1990 base year. Nonetheless, the transport sector still failed to meet the target of minus 10%. Emissions in the building sector in 2020 were 39% lower than in the 1990 base year, which means that the building sector failed to meet the 40% target with respect to 1990 as specified in the current CO2 Act. In 2020, industry emitted 17% less CO2 equivalents relative to the 1990 base year. Industry was thus the only sector to achieve its target of a 15% reduction relative to 1990. Overall, other emissions fell by 2% relative to 1990. The targeted reduction of 10% was thus clearly missed.

The CO2 Act introduced several measures intended to reduce emissions in the various sectors, including an increase in the CO2 levy on thermal fuels combined with an increase in contributions to the federal Buildings Programme, emission regulations for new vehicles, the Emission Trading Scheme for energy-intensive industries and an obligation for importers to compensate for some of the CO2 emissions attributable to motor fuels.

Information on the reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the CO2 Act for the individual periods is available on the following page: Switzerland’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Information on the review of target achievement, in particular the rules on the accounting of the carbon sink (greenhouse gas balance of vegetation and soils) as well as emission reductions through projects abroad is available at: Review of target achievement.

International comparison

Under the Climate Convention (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, the greenhouse gas emissions of all industrialised countries are calculated in accordance with detailed guidelines. Expert panels review compliance with the guidelines. The UNFCCC greenhouse gas inventories are used by a number of international organisations (e.g., by the European Environment Agency EEA, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD, and the Commission on Sustainable Development CSD).

Method

The data are taken from Switzerland's Greenhouse Gas Inventory. This is produced by the FOEN annually in accordance with the guidelines of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The methodology is documented in detail in the National Inventory Report and is in line with the technical guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This indicator shows the total of all greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, expressed in million tonnes of CO2-equivalent, i.e. the various non-CO2 greenhouse gases are converted into CO2-equivalents in accordance with their specific environmental impact. Methodological changes or the availability of new data require a recalculation of the entire time series since 1990.

The baseline value for 1990 of 53.7 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents that is laid down in the Second Initial Report is used to calculate the target levels for 2020.  Under the Kyoto Protocol guidelines, the forest management sequestration performance compared with a reference level (Forest Management Reference Level) is counted towards the target in the second commitment period. 

Basis for assessment of the trend
Targeted trend Initial value Final value Deviation from theoretical path in% Observed trend Assessment
42.96 Mio. t CO2-eq in 2020 2008 2020 96.24% Towards theoretical path unsatisfactory

* The first year for the assessment is 2008 – the year the CO2 levy was introduced. The introduction of the levy also seems to coincide with the beginning of the turning point in emissions.

 
Last updated on: 24.03.2023

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