Swiss greenhouse gas abatement cost curve

The new publication of McKinsey & Company Switzerland provides a quantitative basis for the discussion about Swiss greenhouse gas abatement measures. An intensive debate is in progress concerning the economic and technical feasibility of different target levels. Reduction targets of at least 20 percent by 2020 have been put forward for discussion by the Swiss Federal Government. The aim of the McKinsey study is to offer a fact base and an uniform data set for policy makers, corporate leaders and academics when discussing priorities about emission reductions. Switzerland can reduce its own inland greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45 percent by the year 2030 with technical improvements in buildings (45 percent), transportation (22 percent), power (16 percent), industry (11 percent), and agriculture (6 percent). The measures involved would cost below 100 Euro per tonne of CO2 equivalent avoided.