5th Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Switzerland Able to Meet its International Commitments
The Federal Office for the Environment FOEN presented Switzerland's Fifth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The report documents the progress achieved in the implementation of Switzerland's international commitments in relation to climate. Compared with the levels recorded by the fourth report of 2005, greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland have not changed significantly. In order to fulfil its emission targets Switzerland will have to take carbon sinks into account and to purchase international emissions certificates.
The fact that greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland have not changed significantly compared to 2005 can be explained, among other things, by the fact that the measures taken in Switzerland up to the end of 2007 were mainly voluntary. The commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and the CO2 Act (including the CO2 tax on combustible fuels) have only been in force since 2008.
Switzerland committed under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by eight per cent in the period between 2008 and 2012. As things stand today, it will be possible to reach this target, however it will be necessary to take carbon sinks into account and to purchase international emissions certificates.
Source and further information:
Media release Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)