Climate change adaptation in Switzerland – strategy and action plan
Switzerland is particularly affected by climate change. Compared to the pre-industrial period (1871–1900), the average annual temperature has risen by nearly 3 °C. Extreme weather events such as heatwaves, summer droughts and heavy rainfall have become more frequent and severe. The effects of climate change are expected to intensify and accelerate in the future. In light of these developments, the Federal Council’s adaptation strategy and the corresponding action plan underwent a review that was completed in 2026.
What are the objectives of the climate change adaptation strategy?
The Federal Council's ‘Adaptation to climate change in Switzerland: Goals, fields of action and measures’ establishes the framework for tackling more frequent heatwaves, increasing summer droughts and growing risks from natural hazards.
The strategy sets out the objectives and strategic principles for adaptation at federal level and defines the necessary areas of action. It primarily aims to:
- proactively minimise climate change risks in Switzerland and take targeted action to protect people, property and natural resources
- improve resilience and the adaptability of society, the economy and the environment
- harness any opportunities that may arise from climate change
Adaptation to climate change – How Switzerland is protecting its population and the environment
What are the foundations of the strategy?
The strategy is based on the Climate Risk Analysis for Switzerland (2025) and the Climate CH2025 climate scenarios, using a scenario that anticipates a continued rise in greenhouse gas emissions.
What priorities and fields of action have been identified?
The adaptation strategy identifies 30 areas for action aimed at minimising climate risks and increasing the resilience and adaptability of society, the economy and the environment in the face of climate change. These action areas contribute to the following strategic priorities:
- Protecting the population from heat and developing urban areas adapted to the climate
- Protecting water resources and using them sparingly
- Mitigating the growing risk of gravitational natural hazards
- Increasing the resilience of ecosystems, agriculture and forestry, as well as energy and transport infrastructure
- Maintaining and using Switzerland’s natural and cultural attractiveness
- Ensuring occupational health and safety in the face of increasing heat stress
- Maintaining or improving water quality
- Adapting protection forests to climate change
- Strengthening alpine ecosystems as refuges for adaptation to climate change
- Strengthening the adaptation of agricultural production to local conditions
- Adapting Rhine navigation to increasing summer droughts.
An overview of all action areas:
Adapting to climate change – a shared responsibility
The adaptation strategy was drawn up with the involvement of federal agencies from various departments responsible for climate protection, within the framework of the interdepartmental committee on climate change (IDA Klima). It is aligned with the various sectoral strategies and policies.
Adaptation to climate change is part of a comprehensive policy and is to be integrated into sectoral policies affected by climate change. Accordingly, there are many initiatives in areas such as natural hazard prevention, energy policy and agricultural policy which help to reduce climate risks and increase resilience and adaptability. Although they are not always included in the action plan, they are enshrined in and implemented through the individual sectors' specific strategies and legal frameworks.
What does the 2026-2031 action plan specifically provide for?
The action plan aims to implement the adaptation strategy for the period from 2026 to 2031. This plan follows on from the two previous action plans (2014–2019 and 2020–2025) and renews 56 measures at the federal level.
Key measures include:
- Developing the framework for protecting public health against heat
- Drawing up and implementing the water management strategy covering dry spells, heavy rainfall, water supply quality and the protection of aquatic habitats
- Establishing a basis for agriculture adapted to local conditions
- Continuously developing the technical and institutional framework for monitoring natural hazards
- Providing targeted funding for climate change adaptation projects (Adapt+)
Who is leading the implementation?
Implementation is coordinated within the Interdepartmental Climate Committee (IDA Klima), under the leadership of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Since many of these measures fall under the responsibility of the cantons, cities, and municipalities, FOEN has organized an annual coordination conference with the cantons since 2015.
Avoiding greenhouse gas emissions is the most effective measure
Adapting to climate change complements efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation). If emissions do not fall quickly enough, the effects of climate change will become so severe that adaptation will become increasingly difficult and costly, or even impossible.