Towns and communal authorities can contribute to a climate-neutral Switzerland in several ways: they can utilise their scope for action in climate and energy policy, they can act as role models, and they can take steps to prepare for climate-related changes. The Climate Programme offers them advice and support through a range of practical measures.
A climate strategy guide for communes – making climate protection local
Switzerland has committed to meeting the climate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The eight-step Climate Strategy Guide for Communes supports communal authorities in achieving this ambitious goal. It also shows them ways to counter the effects of climate change. The guide was developed jointly with the 2000-Watt Society programme by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy/SwissEnergy specifically to assist small and medium-sized communes in developing a systematic climate strategy.
Climate Strategy Guide for Communes
Wegweiser Klimastrategie für Gemeinden - Eine Anleitung in acht Schritten (PDF, 5 MB, 07.11.2023)(in German, French or Italian)
The following resources are available to download (in German, French or Italian):
- Vorlage Konzept Klimastrategie (DOCX, 654 kB, 18.05.2022)
- Factsheet Projektorganisation (PDF, 176 kB, 18.05.2022)
- Vorlage Massnahmenblatt (DOCX, 46 kB, 18.05.2022)
- Beispiel Massnahmenblatt Anpassung an den Klimawandel (PDF, 44 kB, 18.05.2022)
- Beispiel Massnahmenblatt Reduktion der Treibhausgase (PDF, 45 kB, 18.05.2022)
- Fragen und Antworten FAQ (PDF, 174 kB, 18.05.2022)
- Übersicht über die acht Schritte (Format A3 zum Ausdrucken) (PDF, 918 kB, 18.05.2022)
For each step, the guide refers to the resources available, such as accounting instruments or financing tools.
New: Free advice for communes
The Federal Office for the Environment FOEN and the Netto Null | 2000 Watt programme by SwissEnergy offer free and customized advice for the development of a climate strategy.
2000W-Schweiz@local-energy.swiss, www.netto-null-gemeinde.ch or tel. 044 305 94 65,
Climate-friendly green and open spaces
The following resources are available on the key topic of adapting to climate change with a focus on green spaces:
Planning aids and good practice
The planning aid for green and open spaces produced by the Climate Programme, SwissEnergy for Communes and Energy City shows how and where communes can get to work. It sets out specific planning, implementation and maintenance measures, and presents case studies from other communes.
Planungshilfe für Grün- und Freiflächen (PDF, 886 kB, 20.10.2020)(available in German, French or Italian)
Klimafreundliche Grün- und Freiflächen Kommunale Umsetzungsbeispiele (PDF, 1 MB, 20.10.2020)(available in German or in French)
Short video on climate-adapted green and open spaces
The commune of Suhr in the canton of Aargau has created more municipal green and open spaces that can be managed in a near-natural, climate-adapted way. Specific examples illustrate the added value for nature and the population alike. The video was produced in collaboration with SwissEnergy for Communes and Energy City.
Short video on climate-adapted green and open spaces, with specific real-life examples from the commune of Suhr (available in German or with subtitles in French and Italian)
Further information
Last modification 02.11.2023
