What is Switzerland's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?
Buildings
Switzerland’s building sector has seen a steeper reduction in direct emissions since 1990 than the decline in overall GHG emissions, falling by 37% between 1990 and 2020.1 This was still insufficient, however, to achieve the country’s 2020 buildings sector emissions reduction target of a 40% reduction below 1990 levels set in 2012.2
Switzerland's energy mix in the buildings sector
petajoule per year
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Graph description
Energy mix composition in the buildings sector in consumption (EJ) and shares (%) for the years 2030, 2040 and 2050 based on selected IPCC SR1.5 global least costs pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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The amended CO₂ Act that was rejected in the 2021 referendum included an extension of this target to a 50% reduction below 1990 levels by 2026/27.3 Also included was a 2023 ban on the use of fossil fuel heating systems in new buildings, and a requirement that replacement systems emit no more than 20 kgCO₂/m2 of building space, with a further 5 kgCO₂/m2 reduction in each subsequent year. These measures were scrapped in the latest proposed amendment and replaced with funding to encourage the adoption of heat pumps and the creation of district heating networks.4 No sector-wide emissions reduction target is included.
The now rejected 2026/27 emissions reduction target, if achieved, would have put a 1.5°C compatible 2030 emissions level in reach, which requires a reduction of around two thirds to three quarters below 1990 levels. Re-including the ban and gradual phase-out of fossil fuel based heating systems in new and existing homes respectively in the latest CO₂ Act proposal, would help greatly to achieve the necessary electrification rate of at least 55% by 2030.
Switzerland's buildings sector direct CO₂ emissions (of energy demand)
MtCO₂/yr
Direct CO₂ emissions only are considered (see power sector for electricity related emissions, hydrogen and heat emissions are not considered here).
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Graph description
Direct CO₂ emissions of the buildings sector in selected 1.5°C compatible pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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1.5°C compatible buildings sector benchmarks
Direct CO₂ emissions and shares of electricity, heat and hydrogen in the buildings final energy demand from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for Switzerland
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
Decarbonised buildings sector by
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Direct CO₂ emissions
MtCO₂/yr
|
11
|
4 to
6
|
2 to
4
|
1 to
2
|
2051
|
|
Relative to reference year in %
|
-63 to
-45%
|
-85 to
-67%
|
-92 to
-84%
|
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Share of electricity
per cent
|
37
|
55 to
62
|
70 to
74
|
78 to
84
|
|
Share of heat
per cent
|
5
|
4 to
9
|
8 to
11
|
10 to
12
|
|
Share of hydrogen
per cent
|
0
|
0 to
4
|
0 to
16
|
0 to
16
|
All values are rounded. Only direct CO₂ emissions are considered (electricity, hydrogen and heat emissions are not considered here; see power sector for emissions from electricity generation). Year of full decarbonisation is based on carbon intenstiy threshold of 5gCO₂/MJ.
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Methodology
Data References
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