2010 target achievement review (for the years 2008 to 2012)

Switzerland met its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol for the 2000–2012 period. The review of its target achievement also considered emission reductions through projects abroad and the accountable sink (CO2 storage by Swiss forests).

Under the Kyoto Protocol, Switzerland committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8 % compared with the 1990 level for the 2008–2012 period. The review of target achievement was based on the April 2014 greenhouse gas inventory, which covered the entire first commitment period.

Balance of greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland for the 2008–2012 period

Switzerland’s balance under the Kyoto Protocol (in million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year)
Greenhouse gas emissions (average for the 2008–2012 period) 52.3
Emission reductions through projects abroad (Climate Cent Foundation and businesses exempt from the CO2 levy) –3.1
Transfer of emissions rights to the next commitment period +0.6
Accountable sink (CO2 storage by Swiss forests) –1.6
Net emissions 2008–2012 48.2
Target according to the Kyoto Protocol (according to the initial report) 48.6
Overachievement 0.4

Switzerland’s average annual greenhouse gas emissions over the 2008–2012 period totalled 52.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. To reach the target of 48.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year, the accountable sink (CO2 storage by Swiss forests) of 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year – measured as the net difference between forest growth and deforestation – as well as the acquisition of foreign emission reduction certificates could be taken into account. The Confederation had agreed with the Climate Cent Foundation in various contracts that it would surrender foreign emission reduction certificates amounting to 2.8 milion  to 3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually to the Confederation (depending on the scope of measures in Switzerland). Added to this was a small number of foreign emission reduction certificates provided by businesses that are exempt from the CO2 levy to meet their reduction commitments. In contrast, surplus emission rights held by businesses for emissions trading and carried over into the next commitment period did not count towards achieving the Kyoto target for the 2008–2012 period (0.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year).

The above circumstances resulted in a modest overachievement of the Kyoto target for the 2008–2012 period, with an annual surplus of approximately 0.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

Further information

Contact
Last modification 08.12.2023

Top of page

https://www.bafu.admin.ch/content/bafu/en/home/topics/climate/info-specialists/emission-reduction/target-achievement-review/2010-target.html