How can a country evaluate its climate policy? A compendium by international experts shows methods by which countries can assess by themselves, how effective their climate policy is. And it shows what additional efforts are required in order to achieve their national climate protection goals. 

As a contribution to the implementation of the Paris Agreement to protect the climate, an expert group has written several discussion papers on behalf of the German Environment Agency. They deal with key issues for discussion and drafting of international rules for Article 6. This article enables the use of international market mechanisms to fulfil the countries’ contribution to climate protection.

In Switzerland, about 4300 stationary engines and gas turbines are in use. The “Swiss emissions inventory of stationary engines and gas turbines for the year 2014” provides detailed information on energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Greenhouse gas emission reduction projects of different countries can only be assessed, compared and plausibly certified when applying international valuation standards. This is a precondition for well-functioning crediting mechanisms, by which effective projects are awarded with tradable certificates. This is one of the conclusions reached by INFRAS, in cooperation with other climate experts, in a report commissioned by the Swedish Energy Agency.

Shopping malls, office buildings, residential buildings and public buildings in India shall become more energy efficient. An INFRAS valuation method helps to estimate and evaluate how effective energy efficiency measures in buildings are. (Photo: Sapsiwai, Fotolia)

This is how the transportation of goods and city logistics may work in the future: underground, fully automated and funded by the private sector. How strongly can traffic be reduced by CST? How can the logistics industry and Switzerland as a logistics hub gain from CST? How can Switzerland's economy as a whole benefit from CST? And how does the CST concept meet the requirements of spatial planning? A study carried out by INFRAS on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) provides answers.

Climate change is also a fact in Switzerland. Alpine regions such as the «Grimsel» area are particularly vulnerable. Increasing intensity of natural disasters are threatening local infrastructure as well as settlement. That's why the cantonal civil engineering office of Berne has initiated the project adaptation strategy for the Grimsel region.

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).

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.