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In terms of volume of municipal solid waste per capita, Switzerland is among the top of the list internationally. The goals of using raw materials sustainably and systematically ensuring closed-loop material cycles have yet to be achieved. This must be done by designing products so that they use less material and energy to manufacture and use, are more durable and can easily be repaired, reused or recycled. Additionally, waste management must increasingly become a platform for (secondary) raw materials.

Polluted sites are areas of limited extent that are polluted by substances which are potentially harmful to the environment or by waste. Contaminated sites are polluted sites in need of remediation. In Switzerland, around 38 000 polluted sites are listed in the registers of polluted sites. Among these, around 4000 are contaminated sites, of which about 1 800 have already been remediated. The revision of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), which came into force on April 1st 2025, aims to accelerate the treatment of contaminated sites, so that all remediations are completed by 2045.

Switzerland’s biodiversity is under pressure. Although incentive measures are having an effect locally, biodiversity remains in a poor state and continues to decline. A third of all species and half of all types of habitat in Switzerland are threatened. Occasional gains are not enough to make up for the losses caused mainly by a lack of land area, soil sealing, fragmentation, intensive use, and nitrogen and pesticide inputs. Subsidies that harm biodiversity exacerbate this negative trend. There is an urgent need for resolute action to preserve the services that biodiversity provides. Rich and resilient biodiversity also helps to mitigate climate change and its consequences.

Humans use organisms for a wide variety of purposes, from specially bred animal and plant varieties in agriculture, bacteria and fungi in food production, viruses in medical research, to ornamental and medicinal plants in gardens. However, certain organisms can pose a threat to humans, animals and the environment. Therefore, genetically modified or pathogenic organisms and certain invasive alien species may only be used without authorisation in confined systems such as laboratories or greenhouses.

With the unsustainable way in which it treats its soil, Switzerland is missing opportunities to produce food, gain clean drinking water, use space for leisure activities, reduce greenhouse gases, conserve biodiversity and counter the growing stress of high temperatures. Inward urban development has slowed the urban sprawl to some degree, but soil sealing has picked up pace again over the past decade. Additionally, soils are still being compacted and contaminated with pollutants, and they are eroding.

More than 26,000 chemical substances are placed on the market in Europe in quantities above one tonne per year. Both the quantities produced and the number of chemicals being used are increasing worldwide. Potential undesirable environmental impacts must therefore be continuously assessed and, if necessary, regulated. Society expects everyday products not to pose any risks from harmful substances. International initiatives for more chemical safety also play an important role for Switzerland.

Mobile networks are constantly growing in importance to society, and ever larger volumes of data are being exchanged wirelessly. The general public's exposure to electrosmog has been monitored on a national level since 2021. Research is being funded to help fill the knowledge gaps regarding the health impact. The federal government is addressing the issue of electrosmog by setting limit values based on the precautionary principle.

Switzerland is particularly affected by climate change, with warming today of 2.9 °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.

The Swiss care deeply about their landscape. Its beauty and diversity should continue to ensure a high quality of life and locational appeal in the future. This will take further efforts and focus on developing the quality aspects of the Swiss landscape. Despite improvements and a reduction in per capita consumption of space, it remains under pressure. For all to benefit from inward urban development, as is the objective, attractive green spaces must also be conserved and upgraded in urban areas.

Peace and quiet is important to our quality of life. It enables people to relax, sleep well, concentrate, and to hear each other. Noise, meanwhile, is intrusive, and causes illness. One in ten people in Switzerland is exposed to loud road traffic noise where they live, with those in towns and agglomerations the most affected. The effects of noise on health and the human need for quiet must be taken seriously and factored more closely into urban development, in particular.

Air quality has improved since 2000 and holds up well in comparison to other European countries. Most limit values are complied with, but ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen compounds continue to harm health and ecosystems. Further action is needed in agriculture, in transport, in industry and in heating. Progress is possible through the systematic use of the best available technology.

With its many mountains and bodies of water, Switzerland is highly prone to natural hazards. Extensive and growing settlements and infrastructure increase the potential for damage. Climate change will exacerbate the existing risks and create new ones, such as more frequent and intense heavy precipitation and longer periods of drought. Natural hazards will increasingly occur in areas that have not been affected thus far, and at unusual times of the year. This makes a well-informed, forward-looking approach to natural hazards even more important.

Handling hazardous substances or organisms entails the risk of major accidents. Today, safety and control measures greatly reduce the risk of accidents occurring in the vicinity of establishments with a major accident potential. However, as a result of settlement development around establishments with a major accident potential, the risks are likely to rise again. An updated planning guide shows how this development can be counteracted with good coordination between spatial planning and accident prevention.

The EIA is an environmental prevention instrument and is used to coordinate and optimise building projects.

Switzerland's forests protect against natural hazards, filter drinking water, provide a habitat for a wide variety of species, offer space for recreation, store CO2 and deliver raw materials for climate-friendly technologies. Their diversity of tree species and structures has been growing for decades now, improving resilience to the effects of climate change. The impact of climate change varies from region to region. Drought, heat, storms, pests and the confluence of these factors are increasingly damaging the health of the forests and diminishing their benefits as a life-sustaining natural resource.

At first glance, Swiss water protection might be seen as a success story. However, a differentiated analysis of the situation reveals substantial deficits in the management of our water bodies. Major efforts are still needed with regard to the structure of streams and rivers as well as water quality in order to maximise diversity. Only then will this habitat, which is crucial for biodiversity in Switzerland, be able to meet the future challenges of climate change.

Natural resource consumption is determined by production and consumption patterns and by infrastructures. The demand areas of nutrition, housing and mobility are particularly significant. Two thirds of Switzerland's total environmental impact occurs abroad. Extrapolated to the global population, such a consumption of natural resources significantly exceeds the level that can be sustained by nature many times over. Worldwide, at least four of the nine planetary boundaries have been crossed – in relation to climate, biodiversity, deforestation, and phosphorus and nitrogen surpluses. Switzerland also contributes to this through its high per capita consumption. As an innovative and prosperous country, Switzerland is in a position to help drive the necessary transition to a sustainable use of resources.