Switzerland’s power sector is already close to achieving zero carbon status, with just a small amount of natural gas generation remaining.1 Transport sector emissions in 2018 were slightly higher than 1990 levels, increasing its share of total emissions to roughly a third – the largest sectoral emissions source.2 Building sector emissions have fallen over the same period, but remain high at 25% of total emissions in 2018.
Industry and agriculture emissions have fallen only slightly since 1990, making up 21% and 13% of total emissions in 2018 respectively, which is the same share of total emissions as in 1990. Total emissions under current policies are projected to reach between 26-31% below 1990 levels by 2030 (excluding LULUCF).3
5 Bundesamt für Energie. Energieverbrauch und Energieeffizienz der neuen Personenwagen und leichten Nutzfahrzeuge 2019. (2020).
6 Bundesamt für Energie. Faktenblatt Vollzug der CO2-Emissionsvorschriften für Personenwagen 2017 Neuzugelassene Personenwagen und ihre CO2-Emissionen. (2018).
7 Bundesamt für Energie & Bundesamt für Strassen. Roadmap Elektromobilität 2022. (2018).
19 Kuramochi, T. et al. Ten key short-term sectoral benchmarks to limit warming to 1.5°C. Clim. Policy (2017).
20 Some pathways include sinks based on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
21 While global cost-effective pathways assessed by the IPCC Special Report 1.5°C provide useful guidance for an upper-limit of emissions trajectories for developed countries, they underestimate the feasible space for such countries to reach net zero earlier. The current generation of models tend to depend strongly on land-use sinks outside of currently developed countries and include fossil fuel use well beyond the time at which these could be phased out, compared to what is understood from bottom-up approaches. The scientific teams which provide these global pathways constantly improve the technologies represented in their models – and novel CDR technologies are now being included in new studies focused on deep mitigation scenarios meeting the Paris Agreement. A wide assessment database of these new scenarios is not yet available; thus, we rely on available scenarios which focus particularly on BECCS as a net-negative emission technology. Accordingly, we do not yet consider land-sector emissions (LULUCF) and other CDR approaches which developed countries will need to implement in order to counterbalance their remaining emissions and reach net zero GHG are not considered here due to data availability.
Switzerlandʼs current GHG emissions
MtCO₂e/yr
Displayed values
By sector
Transport
Buildings
Industry (energy use)
Power
Fugitive emissions
Other
Agriculture
Industry (processes)
Waste
LULUCF
By gas
CO₂
CH₄
N₂O
Other
078%0
Sectors by gas
Energy
099%0
Agriculture
067%0
Industry (processes)
00
Energy system
While Switzerland’s high penetration of renewables and nuclear energy mean its power sector is almost decarbonised, a lack of stringent policies in the transport sector has allowed it to become the only sector to see higher emissions in 2019 than 1990 levels.2
Vehicle emissions standards for new cars are in line with those adopted by the EU; a maximum of 95 gCO₂/km for light vehicles and 147 gCO₂/km for vans and light trucks in 2020.4 However, in 2020 average values in Switzerland for these two vehicle classes sat at 124 and 176 gCO₂/km respectively, falling considerably short of these 2020 targets.5-9
The share of fossil fuels in total primary energy was 54% in 2017, primarily due to consumption of petroleum products in the transport sector and natural gas in the buildings sector.1
Targets and commitments
Economy-wide targets
Target type
Base year emissions target
NDC target
Overall NDC Target:
As expressed by the country: at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 (incl. LULUCF).
Swiss emissions trading scheme was linked to the EU ETS in January 2020 and covers the power, industry, and aviation sector (domestic and EEA destinations).10
Long-term target
Net zero GHG emissions by 2050 (incl. LULUCF).
Sector coverage
EnergyTransportIndustryWasteAgricultureLULUCF
Greenhouse gas coverage
CO₂CH₄PFCsNF₃HFCsN₂OSF₆
Sectoral targets
Transport
15% electric vehicle share of new vehicle sales by 2022.7
15% reduction in passenger vehicle emissions below 2020 levels between 2025-2029, 37.5% below 2021 level in 2030.11
31% reduction in van and light truck emissions below 2021 levels by 2030.11
30% reduction in heavy duty vehicle emissions below 2020 levels by 2030.11
Agriculture
At least a 33% reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.12