Low-Carbon Society in Switzerland

Abstract

Switzerland is unique compared to other European countries as there is hardly any heavy industry and electricity production is a nearly carbonfree, consisting of 60 per cent hydro and 40 per cent nuclear energy. As a consequence the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita are quite low, despite the high-income level. In 2007 the annual emissions (according to the Kyoto Protocol) amounted to ‘only’ 6.75 tons of CO₂– equivalent per capita (FOEN, 2009). However, this number does not include the whole carbon footprint caused by Switzerland. Many products manufactured or consumed in Switzerland are produced in other countries, while the exported goods and services do not use that much energy. As a consequence Switzerland has the highest per capita net imports of GHG emissions of any country (Hertwich and Peters, 2009). If the emissions embodied in imported goods and services are included, annual GHG estimates a range of 12–18 tons per capita ( Jungbluth et al., 2007).