Switzerland is implementing a wide range of measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors. These have an impact on transport, industry, buildings, agriculture, energy generation and the financial markets.
The key measures taken by Switzerland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions are a CO2 levy, an emissions trading system, regulations for buildings and vehicles, the financing of carbon offsetting projects in Switzerland and abroad, industry agreements and various support programmes.
These instruments have varying degrees of impact on the sectors responsible for Switzerland's greenhouse gas emissions – transport, industry, buildings, agriculture, energy production and the financial markets.
Transport
Around a third of Switzerland's greenhouse gas emissions are generated by transport (around 14 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents). This figure does not include emissions from international air traffic (which amount to a further five million tonnes of CO2 equivalents).
In the transport sector, CO2 regulations apply to newly registered cars, vans, articulated lorries and trucks. Swiss vehicle importers must observe these requirements.
Unlike fossil thermal fuels (for heat generation), fossil motor fuels are not subject to the CO2 levy. Instead, companies that place such fuels on the market are required to offset the carbon emissions by funding offsetting projects in Switzerland and abroad.
The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security levies a mineral oil tax on motor fuels. Biofuels are taxed at a reduced rate, provided ecological and social requirements are met.
Airlines and other aircraft operators must purchase emission allowances to cover their carbon emissions.
In the interests of transparency, airlines, travel agencies and other air travel providers must also declare the emissions expected from the flights they offer.
Aircraft operators are also required use a blend of sustainable aviation fuels (blending obligation).
In the transport sector, the federal government is also promoting cross-border night train connections, the development and production of renewable synthetic aviation fuels and electric drive technologies.
Industy
Swiss industry (including waste incineration plants and hazardous waste incineration plants) accounts for around 22% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Effective instruments to reduce emissions are the CO2 levy, reduction obligations, participation in the Emissions Trading System and industry agreements.
The CO2 levy incentivises large businesses to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels such as heating oil or natural gas. Most of the revenue is redistributed to the public and businesses.
Operators of industrial plants can be exempted from the CO2 levy if they conclude a reduction obligation agreement with the federal government instead.
Operators of large greenhouse-gas-intensive plants must participate in the Emissions Trading System. In return, they are exempt from the CO2 levy.
The federal government is helping industry to decarbonise and develop new technologies and processes, such as carbon capture and storage.
The Technology Fund supports innovative technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption, promote the use of renewables and increase energy efficiency.
Waste incineration plants and businesses and plant operators that emit the synthetic greenhouse gas SF6 have concluded industry agreements containing binding reduction targets with the federal government.
Buildings
The buildings sector includes greenhouse gas emissions from households (residential buildings) and the service sector (commercial buildings). Around a quarter of Switzerland's total greenhouse gas emissions are emitted by the buildings sector. Instruments for reducing emissions from buildings are the CO2 levy, subsidies and cantonal building regulations.
The CO2 levy incentivises large businesses to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels such as heating oil or natural gas. Most of the The CO2 levy encourages households and service companies to reduce their use of fossil fuels such as heating oil or natural gas. Most of the revenue is redistributed to the public and businesses.
The Impulse Programme and the Buildings Programme encourage the energy-efficient renovation of buildings as well as investments in renewable energies, the use of waste heat and the optimisation of building technologies.
Cantonal building regulations stipulate energy standards for new and old buildings. The cantons can take additional measures to reduce CO2 emissions from buildings. They report to the federal government on these measures.
Agriculture
Agriculture is responsible for 16% of Swiss greenhouse gas emissions – primarily methane and nitrous oxide.
Measures to reduce emissions are found in agricultural legislation.
Energy
Around three quarters of Switzerland’s greenhouse gas emissions result from the use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal. Switzerland’s energy policy aims to increase energy efficiency and the proportion of renewable energies.
The Energy Strategy 2050 plays an important role in climate protection through the measures set out in the Energy Act.
The Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources lays the foundations for rapidly producing more electricity in Switzerland from renewables such as water, sun, wind and biomass.
Operators of fossil-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plants can gain an exemption from the CO2 levy on fossil thermal fuels used for electricity production.
The federal government supports projects in the field of geothermal energy as well as renewable gas production plants and plants that use solar thermal energy for process heat.
Financial markets
Investment decisions in areas such as energy supply have an effect on the amount of greenhouse gases that will emitted in the future. Both the Climate and Innovation Act (KlG) and the revised CO2 Act set guidelines for climate-friendly financial markets.
Since 2017, the PACTA Climate Test has regularly monitored the climate-compatibility of Swiss financial market investments. All financial institutions can take part on a voluntary basis.
Further information
Last modification 22.09.2025
