Switzerland is on target for the first stage of climate protection

The latest calculations from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN / BAFU) indicate that Switzerland should achieve its national and international targets for the period 2008 to 2012. The FOEN based its model calculations on the most probable reference development, itself founded on current general economic conditions. Depending on the level of economic development, the final budget could turn out to be more positive or markedly more negative (see factsheet below, in German only).
According to these assumptions, Switzerland will achieve its Kyoto Protocol objectives as follows:

• Greenhouse gas net emissions in million tonnes CO2 eq. 2008-2012: 48.4
• Target value Kyoto Protocol (-8% compared with 1990): 48.6

Achieving the CO2 Act objectives

• CO2 net emissions in million tonnes 2008-2012: 37.1
• Target value CO2 Act (-10% compared with 1990): 36.8

For the first time the calculations are based on the latest figures for the third national forestry inventory. This also takes into account the increased use of wood, and this growth is expected to continue in the coming years. This will reduce the carbon sequestration effect of the forests. However, the increased use should also have a positive effect on Switzerland's carbon budget: wood will replace both heating oil and CO2-intensive building materials such as concrete and steel.
Address for enquiries: Paul Filliger, Climate Section FOEN, +41 31 322 68 58
Factsheets in German only:

• Faktenblatt «Erreichung der Reduktionsziele von Kyoto-Protokoll und CO2-Gesetz» (pdf, 104kb)
• Studie «CO2-Emissionen 2008 bis 2012: Kurzfrist-Perspektiven der energiebedingten CO2-Emissionen der Schweiz» (pdf, 194kb)
• Schätzung der Senkenleistung des Schweizer Waldes für die erste Verpflichtungsperiode des Kyoto Protokolls 2008-2012 (pdf, 230kb)
• CO2-Substitutionseffekt durch Nutzungszunahme des Schweizer Waldes bis 2013 (pdf, 23kb)

Source: Media release FOEN