Under the Paris Agreement, states can cooperate to mitigate climate change and pur­chase or sell emission reductions internationally. A fundamental difference to the pre­vi­ous Kyoto Protocol mechanisms is that all countries have now mitigation pledges. Thus, if transferring countries sell too many emission reductions, they risk missing their own mitigation targets. A new study commissioned by the Swedish Energy Agency shows strate­gies that could be used to prevent such "overselling".

In addition to the national effects of climate change, the international impacts of climate change are in particular an increasing risk factor for the German economy. A research project commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency that lasted several years analyzed which impact chains affected international trade. The study makes clear: both governmental and private stakeholders will be increasingly challenged.

As a member of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Liechtenstein must report its greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. INFRAS supported the Liechtenstein Office of Environment in the preparation of the National Inventory Report 2020.

As a member of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Switzerland must report its greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. INFRAS supported the Federal Office for the Environment in the preparation of the National Inventory Report 2020.

Under the Convention Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, Switzerland is obliged to draw up an annual inventory of air pollutant emissions. INFRAS supported the Federal Office for the Environment in the preparation of the Informative Inventory Report 2020.

Droughts in Africa, floods in Asia, hurricanes in North America: the consequences of climate change abroad can also be felt here indirectly, for example in trade relations. This development has both opportunities and risks for Switzerland, with its close international relations.

At the UN Climate Change Conference 2019 in Madrid, parties will negotiate on the de­sign of carbon markets related to Article 6 of the Paris Climate Agreement. INFRAS ex­am­ined design options in several projects. Here are the newest publications and Madrid events at a glance:

Following their set-up phase from 2013 to 2016, the eight networked inter-university cen­tres of research excellence – the Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCERs) – are to be consolidated and strengthened up to the end of 2020. A look at the interim findings.

The Paris Agreement requires developing countries, like other nations, to take wide-ranging action to mitigate climate change. In order to finance large scale mitigation action, development banks blend climate finance with resources from international carbon markets. A team of experts is developing and analysing a range of solutions on behalf of the World Bank.