Indicator Climate

Greenhouse gas balance of land use

The Land Use sector records greenhouse gas fluxes that occur in connection with land use (such as forestry and agriculture, settlements or protection areas) or as the result of a change in land use, such as building houses on former cropland. Unlike the other sectors, which only produce emissions, the carbon stock of the soil and vegetation can increase and thus remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere (so-called carbon sinks).

Assessment of the state
medium medium
Assessment of the trend
impossible to evaluate impossible to evaluate
Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2022: 0.433095833978086 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2021: -1.27370845129962 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2020: -0.650381411872819 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2019: -0.628586099820609 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2018: 0.116437954803641 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2017: -1.32936781549356 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2016: -2.03652808622194 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2015: -1.54304648931383 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2014: -0.703621252126153 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2013: -1.80985363983574 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2012: -1.64320828612101 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2011: -1.13815552268863 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2010: -3.11846018715632 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2009: -2.39136345331477 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2008: -2.04763745219954 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2007: -0.812702753597989 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2006: -0.510197960935259 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2005: -3.21090774729753 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2004: -3.43156104773968 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2003: -1.94109810025442 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2002: -2.53306791865853 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2001: -0.744088066218458 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 2000: 4.41092958911228 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1999: -1.75727065083045 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1998: -3.16073522187654 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1997: -3.90652177961956 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1996: -6.24681653893488 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1995: -4.30740037234325 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1994: -2.952517402905 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1993: -5.30936718445405 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1992: -4.40582540632504 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1991: -6.02011596783907 Greenhouse gas balance of land use and land-use changes 1990: -2.95924553610532
A positive balance equates to a net emission of greenhouse gases (mainly CO2) in the year in question, while a negative balance means that more CO2 equivalents were removed from the atmosphere than were emitted.

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Federal Office for the Environment
Harvested wood products 2022: -0.0354970622966667 Other land 2022: 0.13260247992934 Settlements 2022: 0.179370560887596 Wetlands 2022: 0.180356377309409 Grassland 2022: 0.489373616105366 Cropland 2022: 0.73731861008179 Forest land 2022: -1.25759716392875 Harvested wood products 2021: -0.13232653368 Other land 2021: 0.132264200231192 Settlements 2021: 0.180440940662589 Wetlands 2021: 0.180420068973586 Grassland 2021: 0.324995585701251 Cropland 2021: 0.363791242579005 Forest land 2021: -2.33042963355725 Harvested wood products 2020: 0.02365986821 Other land 2020: 0.131999347819788 Settlements 2020: 0.18548682298678 Wetlands 2020: 0.180784901927647 Grassland 2020: 0.432699066643479 Cropland 2020: 0.470329494354885 Forest land 2020: -2.0824109866154 Harvested wood products 2019: 0.0829842025466667 Other land 2019: 0.133527356153866 Settlements 2019: 0.184185426929888 Wetlands 2019: 0.181678164758568 Grassland 2019: 0.547756188325656 Cropland 2019: 0.351625359757343 Forest land 2019: -2.11738452987259 Harvested wood products 2018: -0.0543644345566667 Other land 2018: 0.132283587010882 Settlements 2018: 0.185941516925516 Wetlands 2018: 0.181422805489535 Grassland 2018: 0.356478424983112 Cropland 2018: 0.155446552853588 Forest land 2018: -0.847794358147322 Harvested wood products 2017: 0.00700885918333339 Other land 2017: 0.131006408750816 Settlements 2017: 0.188152032694437 Wetlands 2017: 0.180056005809251 Grassland 2017: 0.577744740086152 Cropland 2017: 0.529027733691841 Forest land 2017: -2.94936873290939 Harvested wood products 2016: -0.0274873012333334 Other land 2016: 0.126080076098508 Settlements 2016: 0.182954205641591 Wetlands 2016: 0.179208518454069 Grassland 2016: 0.474218153133136 Cropland 2016: 0.443769965450643 Forest land 2016: -3.42223522165656 Harvested wood products 2015: -0.06980429489 Other land 2015: 0.128044513751321 Settlements 2015: 0.18851672269828 Wetlands 2015: 0.17972852709944 Grassland 2015: 0.480516813358176 Cropland 2015: 0.556945968980607 Forest land 2015: -3.01394677495666 Harvested wood products 2014: -0.0898755521400001 Other land 2014: 0.126284288888912 Settlements 2014: 0.19001827057697 Wetlands 2014: 0.177057006640377 Grassland 2014: 0.377920367224767 Cropland 2014: 0.85647500516908 Forest land 2014: -2.34839289443126 Harvested wood products 2013: 0.0764583274766667 Other land 2013: 0.125155912499501 Settlements 2013: 0.203579262083432 Wetlands 2013: 0.178212898495214 Grassland 2013: 0.481826189699044 Cropland 2013: 0.485633193663754 Forest land 2013: -3.36757389864836 Harvested wood products 2012: -0.109055609593333 Other land 2012: 0.123798885766325 Settlements 2012: 0.208904514024589 Wetlands 2012: 0.177430721402374 Grassland 2012: 0.188865084818749 Cropland 2012: 0.237213490192535 Forest land 2012: -2.47713376979725 Harvested wood products 2011: -0.326742069243334 Other land 2011: 0.122710815635004 Settlements 2011: 0.210146166488974 Wetlands 2011: 0.177198809526082 Grassland 2011: 0.333751332173609 Cropland 2011: 0.535077001956839 Forest land 2011: -2.1970354278858 Harvested wood products 2010: -0.425852834036667 Other land 2010: 0.121597049767719 Settlements 2010: 0.21233748352958 Wetlands 2010: 0.176995595494222 Grassland 2010: 0.175445408516492 Cropland 2010: 0.311876813970958 Forest land 2010: -3.69756241538362 Harvested wood products 2009: -0.390275917313334 Other land 2009: 0.119194669224832 Settlements 2009: 0.217341208759904 Wetlands 2009: 0.176713029505706 Grassland 2009: 0.134093111230152 Cropland 2009: 0.0728665401710925 Forest land 2009: -2.72802397610812 Harvested wood products 2008: -0.402339594763334 Other land 2008: 0.117569393410035 Settlements 2008: 0.220822104891418 Wetlands 2008: 0.176452109255802 Grassland 2008: 0.125010934457517 Cropland 2008: 0.349831394998859 Forest land 2008: -2.64171982441484 Harvested wood products 2007: -0.338097356996667 Other land 2007: 0.124258116958342 Settlements 2007: 0.240217425983246 Wetlands 2007: 0.176190179073184 Grassland 2007: 0.137194888464265 Cropland 2007: 0.350490399657629 Forest land 2007: -1.50968311267799 Harvested wood products 2006: -0.512349602306667 Other land 2006: 0.119992612546182 Settlements 2006: 0.247722663762063 Wetlands 2006: 0.174063731908554 Grassland 2006: 0.125768547725259 Cropland 2006: 0.123842342295366 Forest land 2006: -0.795965176926019 Harvested wood products 2005: -0.690172695373334 Other land 2005: 0.120412364595796 Settlements 2005: 0.258803729466569 Wetlands 2005: 0.175637979615854 Grassland 2005: 0.086791229974274 Cropland 2005: 0.131250236725079 Forest land 2005: -3.30037127195677 Harvested wood products 2004: -0.544797576510001 Other land 2004: 0.118104683560763 Settlements 2004: 0.255196223595626 Wetlands 2004: 0.172953494861365 Grassland 2004: 0.0427364698078953 Cropland 2004: 0.198933572306271 Forest land 2004: -3.68145194522661 Harvested wood products 2003: -0.327179951706667 Other land 2003: 0.11689294511413 Settlements 2003: 0.255173342904116 Wetlands 2003: 0.172380457520604 Grassland 2003: 0.125786069859786 Cropland 2003: 0.390626121226487 Forest land 2003: -2.68158793762288 Harvested wood products 2002: -0.26641433027 Other land 2002: 0.115791891331307 Settlements 2002: 0.25576655451273 Wetlands 2002: 0.171848427542039 Grassland 2002: 0.130054391721208 Cropland 2002: 0.219703087431499 Forest land 2002: -3.16667947833731 Harvested wood products 2001: -0.395631238126667 Other land 2001: 0.114658545054755 Settlements 2001: 0.255909452861716 Wetlands 2001: 0.171292667696134 Grassland 2001: 0.10007586858855 Cropland 2001: 0.658530112015222 Forest land 2001: -1.65583527294317 Harvested wood products 2000: -0.700313143676667 Other land 2000: 0.113596167273161 Settlements 2000: 0.257344768310259 Wetlands 2000: 0.170825975693977 Grassland 2000: 0.0924673231523951 Cropland 2000: 0.536574172616413 Forest land 2000: 3.93346896000773 Harvested wood products 1999: -0.34998903654 Other land 1999: 0.112834309932358 Settlements 1999: 0.259569028558882 Wetlands 1999: 0.170584961950742 Grassland 1999: 0.00489079593970672 Cropland 1999: 0.595300102527044 Forest land 1999: -2.55748328643419 Harvested wood products 1998: -0.2746240101 Other land 1998: 0.111666714955312 Settlements 1998: 0.260250510007723 Wetlands 1998: 0.169944006011837 Grassland 1998: -0.168197785071017 Cropland 1998: 0.307591756915516 Forest land 1998: -3.57444290834591 Harvested wood products 1997: -0.222654869286667 Other land 1997: 0.10478910619854 Settlements 1997: 0.258409257691243 Wetlands 1997: 0.168679865394775 Grassland 1997: -0.232494222653479 Cropland 1997: 0.40153104332078 Forest land 1997: -4.39190255003475 Harvested wood products 1996: -0.264545384766667 Other land 1996: 0.104520216157572 Settlements 1996: 0.25653158475321 Wetlands 1996: 0.166049915154717 Grassland 1996: -0.227675187051773 Cropland 1996: 0.458004673555895 Forest land 1996: -6.74686675072283 Harvested wood products 1995: -0.442742887546667 Other land 1995: 0.103512091173312 Settlements 1995: 0.25879092593664 Wetlands 1995: 0.165229417334684 Grassland 1995: -0.275362881926947 Cropland 1995: 0.603720926241739 Forest land 1995: -4.72777710499101 Harvested wood products 1994: -0.319096366233334 Other land 1994: 0.101141455366394 Settlements 1994: 0.242949827074016 Wetlands 1994: 0.1607576074446 Grassland 1994: -0.360624616339811 Cropland 1994: 0.626062555378097 Forest land 1994: -3.41088525756497 Harvested wood products 1993: -0.43467612331 Other land 1993: 0.0900556356405636 Settlements 1993: 0.245398586163521 Wetlands 1993: 0.15509763441246 Grassland 1993: -0.483381775363998 Cropland 1993: 0.702320784653532 Forest land 1993: -5.59131885444513 Harvested wood products 1992: -0.51173205215 Other land 1992: 0.0896382532363308 Settlements 1992: 0.246365183097459 Wetlands 1992: 0.153389409126357 Grassland 1992: -0.597203398557574 Cropland 1992: 0.720563397046844 Forest land 1992: -4.51398652056947 Harvested wood products 1991: -0.712036465653334 Other land 1991: 0.0893594980893898 Settlements 1991: 0.246243214430054 Wetlands 1991: 0.153328511580886 Grassland 1991: -0.754177266488689 Cropland 1991: 0.52224363474215 Forest land 1991: -5.57223258134452 Harvested wood products 1990: -1.11855408606333 Other land 1990: 0.0890892874341665 Settlements 1990: 0.243425767767321 Wetlands 1990: 0.152524048646937 Grassland 1990: -1.01406975759713 Cropland 1990: 0.560280081683103 Forest land 1990: -1.87910690224139
A positive balance equates to a net emission of greenhouse gases (mainly CO2) in the year in question, while a negative balance means that more CO2 equivalents were removed from the atmosphere than were emitted.

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Federal Office for the Environment
Comment

Forest land dominates the greenhouse gas balance of Switzerland’s land use. Most years, forest management has resulted in a distinct increase in the total carbon reservoir in trees, dead wood, litter and forest soils (“forest sink”). Salvage logging following severe storms (Vivian in February 1990, Lothar in December 1999) and the rise in volumes harvested in some years (e.g. 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018) are clearly recognisable. In terms of climate policy, sustainable forest management can be achieved by using the wood grown in a cascade, firstly for long-lasting harvested wood products and subsequently for energy purposes. In almost all the years since 1990, more wood has been incorporated into new products (such as construction timber or furniture) than has been released (as CO2) in the disposal and/or combustion of end-of-life wood products. The size of the annual sink from harvested wood products has fallen in the past few years.

The agricultural use of cropland and grassland affects the carbon stock of the soil. For example, ploughing promotes the decomposition of humus, whereas spreading farmyard manure or leaving harvest residues on the fields increases their carbon stock. As well as the farming method, the main factors influencing the annual fluctuations are the crops grown and the climatic conditions. The case of drained former peatlands is a special one. When subjected to intense agricultural use, these fertile soils release large amounts of the greenhouse gases CO2 and N2O.

Wetlands now only account for a small part of the land area. As almost all of the remaining peatlands have been impaired by the consequences of previous use (particularly drainage), the build-up of peat has stopped, and many of the former sinks are now sources of greenhouse gases.

The development of new settlements has resulted in comparatively low emissions since 1990. Emissions are mainly produced if trees have to be felled during construction work.

Other land such as rocks, scree and glacier forelands have very little vegetation and only poorly developed soil or none at all. These areas therefore play an insignificant role in the greenhouse gas balance.

With the exception of 2000, 2018 and 2022, Switzerland’s land use resulted in more CO2 equivalents being absorbed from the atmosphere by the soil and vegetation than were emitted. Switzerland thus reduced its annual net emissions of greenhouse gases.  Greenhouse gases continue to be released due mainly to the non-sustainable use of primary peaty soils and the use of land for settlement and traffic areas. For this reason, the state is not unreservedly satisfactory. The changes are impossible to evaluate since many factors can influence the total balance (forest and agricultural policies, spatial planning, construction activity, storms).

International comparison

The greenhouse gas balance of land use can be compared to the data from other countries, given that it is calculated in accordance with the IPCC guidelines.

Method

The data are taken from the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Sector), which is drawn up annually by the FOEN in accordance with the guidelines of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The methods are consistent with the guidelines of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

The greenhouse gas fluxes are surveyed for six categories of land use: forest land, cropland, grassland, wetlands, settlements and other land. The carbon stock of harvested wood products made from Swiss wood is also recorded. CO2 is the most important greenhouse gas by far in the Land Use sector. Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from fires, humus depletion, reservoirs and drained peatlands make a minor contribution to the emissions. In addition to the categories listed here, total emissions include low levels of N2O which, under international guidelines, are not allocated to any of these categories. The emissions of CH4 and N2O are converted to CO2 equivalents and added to the CO2 emissions.

 
Last updated on: 15.04.2024

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