The Land Use sector records greenhouse gas fluxes that occur in connection with land use or as the result of a change in land use, such as building houses on former cropland. Unlike the other sectors, which only produce emissions, the amount of carbon stored in vegetation and soils can increase or decrease. In this way, carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from or added to the atmosphere.
The greenhouse gas fluxes are surveyed for six categories of land use: forest, cropland, grassland, wetlands, settlements and other land. The carbon stock of harvested wood products made from Swiss wood is also recorded. CO2 is the most important greenhouse gas by far in the Land Use sector. Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from fires, humus depletion, reservoirs and drained peatlands make a minor contribution to the emissions. Emissions of CH4 and N2O are converted into CO2 equivalents and added to CO2 emissions.
With the exception of the years 2000, 2015, 2018 and 2023 Switzerland’s land use resulted in more CO2 being absorbed from the atmosphere by the vegetation and soils than was emitted. Switzerland's annual net greenhouse gas emissions decreased as a result of this ecosystem service.
Forest land dominates the greenhouse gas balance of Switzerland’s land use. With the exception of a single year (2000), forest management has always resulted in a distinct increase in the total carbon reservoir in trees, dead wood, litter and forest soils (so-called forest sink). The forced usage following severe storms (Vivian in February 1990, Lothar in December 1999) and the rise in volumes harvested in some years (e.g. 2006 and 2007) are clearly recognisable. The data from the National Forest Inventory show that, since the 1990s, Swiss forests have tended to absorb and store less CO2 per year. It is unclear how strongly the accumulation of hot and dry summers in the past decade, which caused drastic forest damage in many European countries, affects Switzerland.
In terms of climate policy, sound forest management can be achieved by using the wood grown in a cascade, firstly for long-lasting, high-quality harvested wood products and subsequently as fuel. In almost all the years since 1990, more wood has been incorporated into new products (such as building timber or furniture) than has been released from old ones. However, the annual sink from harvested wood products has tended to decrease in recent decades.
The agricultural use of cropland and grassland affects the carbon stock of the soil. For example, ploughing encourages the depletion of humus, whereas spreading farmyard manure or leaving harvest residues on the fields increases their carbon stock. In addition to the farming method, the main factors influencing the annual fluctuations are the crops grown and, above all, the weather conditions. The case of drained former peatlands is a special one. When subjected to intense agricultural use, these fertile soils release large amounts of the greenhouse gases CO2 and N2O.
Wetlands now only account for a small part of the land area. As almost all of the remaining peatlands have been impaired by the consequences of previous use (particularly drainage), the build-up of peat has stopped, and many of the former sinks are now sources of greenhouse gases.
The development of new settlements has resulted in comparatively low emissions since 1990. Emissions are mainly produced if trees have to be felled during construction work.
Other land such as rocks, scree and glacier forelands have very little vegetation and only poorly developed soil or none at all. These areas play an insignificant role in the greenhouse gas balance.
Further information
Data
Emissionsübersicht: Tabellen zum Bericht (Version April 2025) (XLSX, 346 kB, 15.04.2025)Tabellen zum Bericht «Emissionen von Treibhausgasen nach CO2-Gesetz und Übereinkommen von Paris» (in German, also available in French)
Last modification 15.04.2025
