An energy-saving target agreement with the Swiss Federal Government, a share of more than 5% electricity costs per gross value added, and a refund amount of at least CHF 20'000 per year: Under these conditions, large commercial or industrial end users are entitled to a refund of their national network supplement for the promotion of renewable energies.

Since 1990, Switzerland has strongly extended and consolidated its mix of measures of energy policies and climate policies. This approach has proven successful. While our greenhouse gas emissions would have risen (1990 to 2030: +6%) without the necessary influence of energy political and climate political measures, we can now expect a decline in emissions (1990 to 2030: -17%) due to the implemented and continuous measures. At the same time, however, it has become evident that there is still a need for action if the targeted reduction of -30% shall be achieved (target 2030 in comparision to 1990).

In collaboration with the federal offices concerned, the Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE calculated how transport in Switzerland will develop up to 2040. In the reference scenario, the person-kilometres travelled will increase by a quarter by 2040. This is slightly less than projected population growth. By 2040, the share of all transport accounted for by public transport will rise by four percentage points. Assuming a 46 % increase in GDP, both the volume of freight transport and the tonne-kilometres transported will rise by 37 %. The cost of transporting freight by road will increase more than the cost of rail transport, so the modal split in terms of tonne-kilometres will shift by two percentage points towards the railways. (Photo: ARE)

Through an expansion of the infrastructure for the railway and the combined transport and also through the funding, inter alia, by an extended truck toll scheme and by increased rail track charges: That is how Germany can shift a significant part of the freight transport services from the road onto the railway until 2030. By doing so, the national economy makes a contribution to the international climate protection and could reduce environmental costs within Germany. Furthermore, there is a benefit due to the user financing regarding domestic added value and employment – not least because of the contribution coming from foreign consignors, consignees and transport operators.

The report «Wege aus der Wohlstandsfalle» (how to escape the wealth trap) published by the Swiss group «Neue Analysen für Wachstum und Umwelt NAWU» (new analyses for growth and environment) in 1978 is one of the most important foundations in research regarding a sustainable development in Switzerland. Being part of a large consortium, also INFRAS cooperated intensely at the time. How can a sustainable development for society, economy and politics be achieved? This is a question that still propels us in our work today. And yet, many things have changed. When thinking for tomorrow, our scope has thematically and methodically widened. We have enhanced the independent external view. And we have increased the internal responsibility: We are not just a handful of employees anymore, but today INFRAS counts more than 50 staff members in Zurich and Berne, Switzerland. Also within INFRAS sustainable development is essential for us. We are delighted with our tasks and raise a toast on yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Due to structural changes in the economy and increases in efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland remained constant throughout the last 24 years - despite population and economic expansion (2014 vs. 1990: increase by 20% of both, inhabitants and gross domestic product per inhabitant). Being a member state to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Switzerland is meant to report its greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. INFRAS issued this current report on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment.

Due to structural changes in the economy and increases in efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland remained constant throughout the last 24 years - despite population and economic expansion (2014 vs. 1990: increase by 20% of both, inhabitants and gross domestic product per inhabitant). Being a member state to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Switzerland is meant to report its greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. INFRAS issued this current report on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment.

The Alpine regions still face a high need for action to improve the environmental situation along the transit corridors. Air quality limits are exceeded, the modal shift from road to rail is stagnating (with the expection of Gotthard). Thus, the region Rhône-Alpes, the Provinces of Bolzano and Trento, the Regions of Aosta Valley and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Piemonte, the Canton of Ticino, Central Switzerland, the Land of Tyrol and the Accademia Europea di Bolzano successfully continued their cooperation in 2015 to further specify elements of their common transport strategy. Especially, a proposition – developed by iMONITRAF! - for a Toll Plus system from the perspective of the regions was documented in an in-depth report, which was discussed on technical as well as political level in 2015.

The study examines different variations of market openings. Besides a fully opened market, it also analyses variations with a gradual opening over a period of time or with a differentiation of the opening in regard to customer attributes e.g. the exclusion of market access for households. Furthermore, the issue is being discussed, whether a basic gas supply is necessary at all. The study also evaluates the impacts of a market opening in relation to the economy, the society and the environment. The analyses carried out show that with a continuation of the opening of the gas market, there are positive effects on the economy and the private households to be expected. Moreover, the greatest potentials for efficiency gains can be achieved by a complete opening of the market.