Switzerland narrowly missed its national target for 2020, but will meet its international commitment under the Kyoto Protocol for the years 2013–2020 thanks to emission reductions through projects abroad. According to clearly defined rules, Switzerland can take a part of the CO2 stored in Swiss forests and in Swiss harvested wood products into account, i.e. deduce it from its emissions.
The current CO2 Act required Switzerland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 % below the 1990 level by 2020 (national target). This corresponds to an average reduction by 15.8 % over the entire period 2013–2020 to which Switzerland committed internationally under the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (international target). For the national target according to the CO2 Act, the emission reduction must be achieved entirely through domestic measures. The international target under the Kyoto Protocol additionally allows emission reductions achieved through projects abroad. An agreement between the Climate Cent Foundation and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) regulates the acquisition of corresponding emission reduction certificates.
National and international targets allow the accountable carbon sink (CO2 storage by Swiss forests and Swiss harvested wood products) to be considered.
Anrechnung des Wald- und Holzsektors gemäss Kyoto-Protokoll (PDF, 217 kB, 16.04.2020)2. Verpflichtungsperiode 2013–2020 (in German, also available in French)
National target (according to the CO2 Act)
Greenhouse gas emissions (2020) |
43.4 |
Accountable carbon sink (CO2 storage by Swiss forests and Swiss harvested wood products) |
–0.3 |
Net emissions 2020 |
43.1 |
Target |
43.0 |
Missing quantity |
0.1 |
The mild weather in winter led to exceptionally low emissions from the buildings sector in 2020. In addition, the measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic led to a reduction in emissions from transport. Nevertheless, Switzerland narrowly missed the national target according to CO2 Act for 2020.
Targets by sectors (according to the CO2 Ordinance)
For 2015, the buildings and industry sectors met their interim targets, while emissions in the transport sector exceeded the target.
For 2020, only the industry sector met its expected contribution to the overall reduction target, while emissions in the buildings and transport sectors as well as other emissions exceeded the target.
Target |
Emissions |
Target |
Emissions |
|
Buildings |
–22 % |
–27 % |
–40 % |
–39 % |
Transport |
0 % |
+4 % |
–10 % |
–8 % |
Industry |
–7 % |
–13 % |
–15 % |
–17 % |
Other emissions |
– |
+5 % |
–10 % |
–2 % |
International target (according to the Kyoto Protocol)
Switzerland managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by around 11 % on average over the years 2013–2020 compared to 1990. However, the international target under the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol will only be met through additional contributions, namely the accountable carbon sink (CO2 storage by Swiss forests and Swiss harvested wood products) and emission reductions through projects abroad.
The final accounting at international level will take place after the review of the greenhouse gas inventory of April 2022 by an international expert review team mandated by the United Nations.
Further information
Documents
Emissionen von Treibhausgasen nach CO2-Gesetz, Kyoto-Protokoll und Übereinkommen von Paris (Version Juli 2022) (PDF, 955 kB, 11.07.2022)In German, also available in French
Data
Emissionsübersicht: Tabellen zum Bericht (Version Juli 2022) (XLSX, 283 kB, 11.07.2022)Tabellen zum Bericht «Emissionen von Treibhausgasen nach CO2-Gesetz, Kyoto-Protokoll und Übereinkommen von Paris» (in German, also available in French)
Last modification 11.04.2022
