Switzerland drops 12 places to 33rd place in the current Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). The main reason for the drop in the annual comparison of climate protection countries is the stagnation in climate policy until 2030.
With the 2015 Paris climate agreement, signatories decided to reduce their CO2 emissions, thereby limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels. They even wanted to try to limit warming to 1.5°C (Celsius). Since 2015, several countries and the EU as a whole have indeed raised their ambitions. Switzerland has not; it has remained unchanged in the nine years since Paris on its too weak 2030 target. «This despite the fact that it is clear that the stabilization of global warming can only be reached with intensified emission reductions before 2030», criticizes Greenpeace Switzerland.
Switzerland must redouble its domestic decarbonization efforts
With the current Swiss climate policy, the maximum remaining CO2 budget for compliance with the 1.5°C limit is guaranteed to be exceeded, according to Greenpeace Switzerland. Recent budget calculations in the context of the dispute over the climate seniors ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) show this. Compliance with the 1.5°C limit and the target path of the Climate Protection Act (KlG) adopted by the people are also at risk, warns Greenpeace Switzerland. In order to remain within the CO2 budget for compliance with the 1.5°C limit, Switzerland must redouble its domestic decarbonization efforts. In addition, reduction measures in other countries must receive increased support. «Global climate protection can only succeed if all countries make an appropriate contribution commensurate with their economic strength», advocates Greenpeace Switzerland.
It also works better
The Scandinavian countries, led by Denmark, are once again showing how things can improve. The country pursues an ambitious climate policy and, as in previous years, leads the rating. For example, Denmark has been pursuing a consistent and successful «warm transition» for more than ten years. Today, oil and gas heating systems account for only a small proportion. In the transport sector, Norway is leading the way and is already planning a ban on new cars with internal combustion engines next year.
Federal Council and Parliament are unwilling to lay down adequate measures
Several climate-relevant laws and revisions will enter into force in the coming year. «When drafting the relevant ordinances, the Federal Council would have numerous opportunities legitimized by the people to make improvements in the area of climate protection, but it does not use them. For example, the urgent need to focus the financial sector more on climate protection within the framework of the Climate Protection Act (KIG) remains practically untouched. There is also the absence of implementation of the exemplary role of the federal government and the cantons, as mandated by the law», criticizes Georg Klingler, climate expert at Greenpeace Switzerland. Accordingly, Switzerland performed particularly poorly in the Climate Change Performance Index in the area of «Climate Policy» and now ranked 48th.
Klingler continues: «The solutions have long been on the table. Rapid decarbonization is important not only for the protection of human rights, but also for a prosperous shareholder. With the current climate policy framework, together with the refusal of Parliament and the Federal Council to implement the final climate ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, Switzerland is dismantling the 1.5°C limit. This means that our wealthy and capable country is giving up what is probably our most important life insurance policy.»
Switzerland is increasingly losing track internationally
Patrick Hofstetter, an energy and climate protection expert at WWF Switzerland, has a similar view: «In Switzerland’s political system, the people have the last word and give the politicians their room for maneuver. Contrary to many claims, however, this room for maneuver is far from being exhausted, especially when it comes to climate protection. On the contrary: The Federal Council is barely scratching the necessary minimum in the design of the climate protection and CO2 laws and thus does not do justice to the will of the people or to its international obligations. With this incomprehensible tactic of refusal, Switzerland is missing an important opportunity and is increasingly losing track internationally.»
