Implementation of climate neutrality decided
In a June 2023 referendum, the Swiss have set the priorities for a country that wants to become climate neutral. According to the final results of the vote, 59.1 % supported the new climate protection law. No more greenhouse gas emissions are to be produced by 2050. The government plans to support the departure from oil and gas heating by providing financial assistance. It is planned that companies will be supported in switching to climate-friendly technology. More wind turbines are also to be erected. Greenpeace Switzerland praised the popular vote, saying the country is now seriously on track to phase out fossil fuels.
Can this goal be achieved?
If two studies published shortly before the vote are to be believed, these goals are feasible. According to a study published by experts at the Centre for Energy Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), it is both technically and economically feasible to achieve this goal. The path to this goal requires the electrification of transport and the provision of space heating.
Although the energy transition will increase the demand for electricity from today to 60 to 80 to 100 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2050. According to the ETH researchers, the demand could be met by expanding renewable energies in Switzerland and exchanging electricity with neighbouring countries.
The federal government guarantees that modern technology and the use of renewable energies can reduce CO2 emissions from transport, building heating and cooling, and industry by up to 95 percent. Other greenhouse gases, especially from agriculture, can also be reduced.
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The plan is to offset the remaining emissions through natural CO2 absorbers such as forests and soils, and through technologies that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or capture and permanently store them directly in the places where they are produced, such as waste incineration plants.
It can be said that for the implementation of this goal, a rethinking of the population is required and also the economy, industry and politics must participate in this rethinking.
