The Paris Agreement was adopted at the 2015 Paris climate conference for the post-2020 period. For the first time, this agreement committed all states to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and largely eliminated the previous distinction between industrialised and developing countries.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding instrument under the Climate Change Convention. It entered into force on 5 October 2016 after being ratified by 55 countries that together are responsible for at least 55% of emissions from industrialised countries.
Switzerland ratified the Paris Agreement on 6 October 2017, committing to halve its emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, partly through international offset mechanisms. Switzerland has also announced it intends to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It is implementing its international commitments primarily through the Climate and Innovation Act and the CO2 Act.
The Paris Agreement contains elements aimed at gradually reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and is the first to be based on common principles for all states.
Aims of the Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement aims to keep average global warming compared with the pre-industrial period well below 2 ºC, and ideally below 1.5 ºC. It also aims to channel financial flows into low greenhouse gas development and to improve our ability to adapt to climate change.
Common principles of the Paris Agreement
- All countries must set reduction targets that are clear, comprehensible and quantifiable. A reduction target must always § All states must set a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) every five years. While the attainment of targets is only politically binding, countries are legally obliged to implement national measures, report on the attainment of targets, and subject them to international review.
- All countries must set reduction targets that are clear, comprehensible and quantifiable. A reduction target must always go further than the one that preceded it and should be as ambitious as possible.
- The agreement allows countries to count overseas emission reductions towards meeting their targets, provided these reductions maintain environmental integrity, promote sustainable development, and avoid double counting. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement permits two forms of emission reductions abroad, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs): those from a mechanism under the Paris Agreement and those from bilateral or plurilateral agreements (Art. 6.2).
- The Paris Agreement eliminates the previous strict division between industrialised and developing countries. The poorest countries are allowed to apply their own judgement in implementing the agreement. Industrialised nations are also urged to act as pioneers by continuing to set themselves absolute macroeconomic targets. Developing countries, in turn, are urged to adopt macroeconomic targets on a progressive basis. The differentiation between the countries is dynamic, as the reduction targets are defined nationally and should reflect the maximum possible ambition of a given country. Each state's reduction target is thus calculated based on its evolving climate responsibility and capacity.
- All countries should develop, submit and regularly update strategies and measures to adapt to climate change. The timing and form of the international declaration can be determined at the national level. The countries are also required to report regularly on their adaptation measures. The Paris Agreement reinforces the existing mechanisms for the avoidance and minimisation of loss and damage; however, liability and compensation were explicitly excluded.
- In relation to climate finance, the Paris Agreement does not specify any new obligations. Industrialised countries are still legally obliged to support developing countries in their emission reduction and adaptation measures. For the first time, however, non-industrialised countries are also invited to support such measures. The mobilisation of investments from both public and private sources is now considered a task for all countries. Industrialised nations should nonetheless continue to play a pioneering role. The common target for industrialised countries to mobilise USD 100 billion per year in public and private finance from 2020 was confirmed up to 2025, and a comparable new target has been set for the post-2025 period, i.e. USD 300 billion per year up to 2035. For the first time, this target also includes contributions from countries beyond the traditional industrialised nations, such as China, Singapore and the Gulf States. In addition, countries agreed on a target of USD 1,300 billion in investment per year by 2050 for developing countries. Countries are obliged to continue reporting every two years on the resources they have mobilised and, if possible, to provide indicative quantitative and qualitative information about proposed resources in the years to come. Similarly, developing countries are urged to report every two years on climate-friendly investments and international climate finance that they require, have received, or have mobilised themselves.
Switzerland is making good progress in implementing the Paris Agreement.
The reduction commitments made under the Paris Agreement are being implemented in national climate legislation. Switzerland has set itself emission reduction targets in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and scientific recommendations. It communicated its first voluntary NDC in 2017 and has since strengthened its targets.
Switzerland’s national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Switzerland has informed the international community of its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The voluntary NDC is available in the registry of the UNFCCC secretariat:
Switzerland's First Nationally Determined Contibution (NDC) 2021–2030 (PDF, 473 kB, 13.11.2024)Switzerland’s information necessary for clarity, transparency and understanding in accordance with decision 1/CP.21 of its updated and enhanced nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement (2021–2030) (Update of 13 November 2024)
With regard to adapting to climate change, the Federal Council has approved a two-part adaptation strategy for Switzerland under current CO2 legislation. Switzerland issued its adaptation communication in 2020, in line with the Paris Agreement.
Further information
Last modification 11.07.2025
