2020 reduction target (for the years 2013 to 2020)
As part of its contribution to global climate protection Switzerland set itself clear targets for 2020 In the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, Switzerland was internationally obliged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 15.8 per cent below 1990 levels between 2013 and 2020. Switzerland narrowly missed its national target for 2020, but was able to meet its international target under the Kyoto Protocol for the years 2013 to 2020 thanks to emission reductions through projects abroad.
National target (as per the CO₂ Act)
The CO2 Act required Switzerland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2020 (national target). The reductions were to be achieved exclusively through domestic measures. Part of the greenhouse gas balance of Swiss forests and the carbon storage in Swiss wood products could be considered accounted for according to the same rules as at international level, i.e. could be deducted from Switzerland’s emissions.
Balance of Switzerland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 (values in million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year):
In 2020, mild weather during the winter months led to exceptionally low emissions in the building sector. In addition, measures to contain the corona virus pandemic led to lower emissions from transport. Nevertheless, Switzerland narrowly failed to achieve its national target for 2020 under the CO2 Act.
Sectoral targets (as per the CO₂ Ordinance)
For 2015 and 2020, the CO2 Ordinance and the explanatory report on the CO2 Ordinance defined targets for the building, transport and industry sectors, as well as for other greenhouse gas emissions (agriculture, waste and synthetic gases).
The building and industry sectors achieved their interim targets for 2015, but emissions in the transport sector exceeded the target value. For 2020, only the industry sector achieved its expected target contribution, while emissions in the building and transport sectors and other greenhouse gas emissions exceeded their targets.
International target (in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol)
The national target for 2020 – a 20 per cent reduction compared to 1990 – corresponds to an average reduction of 15.8 per cent compared to 1990 over the years 2013 to 2020. Switzerland had committed itself to this target internationally as part of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (international target). Emission reductions achieved in projects abroad were also permitted to count towards the international target set out in the Kyoto Protocol. An agreement was in place between the Climate Cent Foundation and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) for the purchase of corresponding emission reduction certificates. As with the national target, Switzerland was also allowed to count part of the greenhouse gas balance of Swiss forests and the carbon storage in Swiss wood products towards its international target according to clearly defined rules, i.e. to deduct it from its emissions.
Switzerland was only able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by an average of around 11 per cent between 2013 and 2020 compared with 1990. However, the international target set out in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was met by taking into account additional contributions, namely the accountable greenhouse gas balance of Swiss forests and carbon storage in Swiss wood products, as well as emission reductions through projects abroad.
The technical documents for the final review of target achievement by an international expert review team from the United Nations are available on the following website:
True-up period reports under the Kyoto Protocol
Further informations
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