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According to the Federal Offices for the Environment and Meteorology and Climatology, Switzerland is doing very little to achieve its climate goals. Imports also cause high CO2 emissions.
Because it is? Switzerland is more affected by climate change than other countries. But it also emits significantly more climate-damaging greenhouse gases per capita than other countries. He has taken action against climate change, but they are not enough. That is the conclusion of the report “Climate change in Switzerland”, Link opens in a new window, published jointly by the Federal Offices of the Environment and of Meteorology and Climatology.
What is new? “The findings are not entirely new,” says SRF business editor Klaus Ammann. However, for the first time in seven years, indicators from all relevant areas were compiled in the document. And they show more clearly than ever that the climate in Switzerland has already warmed two degrees compared to the pre-industrial era, that is, that we in this country are already above the temperature threshold that the world does not want to exceed on average. “
What are the forecasts? There is still a lot of uncertainty about future scenarios. “What is clear, however, is that if things continue as before, then warming in Switzerland could increase by as much as seven degrees by 2100, with corresponding serious consequences for the environment, nature and agriculture.” The report states that only if rigorous measures are taken, warming can be limited to 2.1 to 3.4 degrees.
Who has a duty? Not only Switzerland is required, but every country in the world. “There are no limits to CO2 emissions. But Switzerland has a special responsibility, ”said the SRF editor. “We have a good balance here because we have, for example, comparatively climate-friendly electricity production.” But the Swiss fly an above-average amount. “And we consume a lot of products that are produced abroad with high greenhouse gas emissions, such as electronics, which generate a lot of CO2 during production.”
What areas does it concern? Switzerland is still doing very little to achieve its climate goals. The report shows it too. The authors analyzed three areas: industry, construction, and transportation. From this it can be seen that “the industry may just barely reach its target, which is probably not enough in the case of buildings – here it is mainly heating systems – and that traffic will clearly not reach the targets by the end. 2020 “.
What measures are necessary? In the CO2 Law there are instruments that address the aforementioned areas. “Above all, however, in traffic it is foreseeable that more measures will be necessary to reach the next goals in 2030.” And even the so-called climate neutrality, which Switzerland aspires to by 2050, much more is needed. “This will likely require additional taxes or a higher price for CO2,” says SRF’s business editor.
What would be the consequence? According to Ammann, there are studies showing that if climate change continues unchecked as it has before, it could cost Switzerland about 12 percent of its gross domestic product by 2100. “These are huge costs. And that makes the conclusion plausible that doing nothing is definitely more expensive than trading. “
Klaus Ammann
Business Editor, SRF
