Topic Climate

Switzerland is particularly affected by climate change, with warming today of 2.8 °C compared to pre-industrial levels. While emissions generated in Switzerland have decreased, the target of reducing emissions by 2020 was narrowly missed. Switzerland aims to halve its emissions by 2030, and the Federal Council wants to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Reducing emissions in line with these goals will require the exploitation of all technical potentials, the decarbonisation of the economy and the creation of framework conditions that enable sustainable everyday life.

Switzerland's climate policy is geared towards ensuing that the earth does not warm up by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. It is therefore reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, along with the EU states and most other countries. At the same time, Switzerland must adapt to the impacts of global warming, impacts which can already be felt today. The climate policy goals are the subject of strategies and action plans, are established in legislation and are coordinated with other countries in international negotiations.

The global climate has had natural fluctuations over periods of time ranging from a several years to millions of years. Since the beginning of industrialization the composition of the atmosphere has increasingly changed due to greenhouse gas emissions. This man-made development amplifies the natural greenhouse effect and leads to a noticeable change in the climate.

The CO2 Act includes a wide range of specific measures to achieve the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions.

From 2025, Swiss climate policy will not only continue to focus on existing instruments but will also place a strong emphasis on funding measures. The revised CO2 Act and the Climate and Innovation Act provide the legal basis for this. Both came into force on January 1, 2025.

Climate change is increasing the risk and frequency of heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall. To combat these and other effects of climate change, adaptation measures are needed alongside measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Switzerland must achieve its net-zero climate target by 2050. First and foremost, this means reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2. Not all greenhouse gas emissions can be avoided entirely.

Today’s investment decisions, for example concerning energy supply, will also determine the quantity of greenhouse gases that will be emitted in the future. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the international community set three main objectives, including making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. This means that in the future, more money will be invested in environmentally friendly and future-oriented technologies and energy sources, and less in greenhouse gas-intensive technologies and energy sources. Switzerland has written this target into law in the Climate and Innovation Act (CIA).

Data on Switzerland’s greenhouse gas emissions are included in Switzerland’s greenhouse gas inventory.

What is the greenhouse effect? Is climate change really caused by human activity? Interesting facts in a nutshell.

The 'Offsetting CO2 emissions' newsletter informs project sponsors, inspection bodies, companies subject to offsetting requirements and other stakeholders about important developments, decisions, innovations and publications relating to the topic of domestic offsetting of carbon emissions.