Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035

1. In the building sector: the agriculture sector and one to two million tonnes of CO2 • By 2035: minus 66 percent; from international aviation are foreseen to be balanced by • Until 2040: minus 82 percent; negative emissions. All enterprises in Switzerland must • By 2050: minus 100 percent. reach net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, taking at least direct and indirect emissions into account.

2. In the transport sector (excluding international aviation): • By 2035: minus 41 percent; • Through 2040: minus 57 percent; Net-negative pathway after 2050 • Until 2050: minus 100 percent. According to the Climate and Innovation Act, after 2050,

3. In the industry sector: the amount of CO2 captured from the atmosphere and • By 2035: minus 42.5 percent; stored using CDR must be greater than the remaining • Through 2040: minus 50 percent; greenhouse gas emissions. • Until 2050: minus 90 percent.

4. In other sectors (agriculture, waste, F-gases) The Swiss federal and cantonal administrations • By 2035: minus 33 percent; set the example • From agriculture by 2035: minus 25 percent3; • From agriculture by 2050: minus 40 percent4; By 2040, the federal administration must reach at least • Greenhouse gas emissions footprint (i.e. consump- net-zero in its emissions. In addition to direct and indirect tion-based emissions over the whole life cycle) of food emissions, emissions generated upstream and downstream per capita (compared to 2020): minus 25 percent by third parties are equally taken into account. The cantons by 2030, minus 35 percent by 2035, and minus two aim at minimum for a net zero emission objective by 2040 for thirds by 2050; their central administrations, the same goes for enterprises affiliated to the Swiss Confederation. The Swiss Confeder- ation supports them in this role. 3 Climate Strategy for Agriculture and Food 2050 4 Climate Strategy for Agriculture and Food 2050 Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 8 3 National context Today, Switzerland’s share in global greenhouse gas emis- nomic output had risen by 68 percent, the building space sions is around 0.1 percent. In 2022, total greenhouse gas that had to be heated for households increased by 53 per- emissions of Switzerland (including LULUCF and indirect cent, 54 percent more passenger cars, motorcycles and CO2) equated 42.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This coaches were in circulation on Swiss roads and 31 percent corresponds to emissions of 4.8 tonnes of CO2 equivalents more people lived in Switzerland. Greenhouse gas emis- per capita, which is below world’s average. Both total emis- sions in this period nevertheless decreased slightly: new sions and average emissions per capita have reached their buildings are better insulated than in the past, cars have highest levels in the 1990s and have been falling continu- become more fuel efficient, and fossil fuels are increasing- ously for several years. ly substituted with renewable energy sources. Since 1990, Switzerland has experienced substantial eco- Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the respective reduction over nomic and population growth. These two parameters in- the period 1990 to 2022 in greenhouse gas emissions per fluence the consumption and production of energy, traffic capita by 42.3 percent and in greenhouse gas emissions volumes and the number and volumes of heated buildings, per real gross domestic product by 55.0 percent, indicat- which strongly impact greenhouse gas emissions in almost ing a decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse all sectors. Compared with 1990, by 2022, Switzerland’s gas emissions. real gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of eco- Figure 1 Relative changes in Switzerland’s greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions from 1990 to 2022 compared to Switzerland’s population (1990=100). Excluding international aviation, maritime transport and land-use change / forestry. 140 GHG emissions GHG per capita 130 CO2 emissions 120 CO2 per capita Population 110 Index 1990 = 100 100 90 80 70 60 50 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 20 2002 20 20 20 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 20 2022 00 04 06 08 20 Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 9 The largest shares of greenhouse gas emissions arise from Figure 3 the transport and buildings sector. Agriculture and industry Switzerland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 by sector. Total also contribute substantial shares to Switzerland’s total emissions: 42.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. greenhouse gas emissions, while energy industries are Including domestic civil aviation (excluding military), excluding interna- less emissions-intensive when compared with many other tional aviation, maritime transport, including land-use change / forestry. countries. 5.7% Re- 7.6% maining Climate change has already left many marks Energy sources in Switzerland 8.1% industries Industrial 32.3% The environment, society, and the economy are affected. processes Transport The current climate mean temperature in Switzerland has 10% risen by 2.8 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-indus- Manufacturing industries trial average of 1871-1900. The year 2024 in particular and construction was 3.3 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial period.5 In the Alps, glaciers have been retreating at an 22.3% 14% accelerating pace since 1980. Since 1850, glaciers have Agriculture Residential lost over 65 percent of their volume. If the warming con- Commercial/institutional 5 Estimated using a non-linear climate trend line to describe the climate evolution (Scherrer et al. 2024: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2023.100428 Figure 2 Relative changes in Switzerland’s greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions from 1990 to 2022 compared to Switzerland’s real gross domestic product (GDP). Excluding international aviation, maritime transport and land-use change / forestry. 180 GHG emissions 170 GHG emissions 160 per GDP 150 CO2 emissions 140 CO2 emissions per GDP 130 GDP Index 1990 = 100 120 (real, reference 110 2010) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 20 2002 20 20 20 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 20 2022 00 04 06 08 20 Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 10 tinues, only a fraction of the current glacier cover will be Early action left by the end of the 21st century with large impacts on the seasonal availability of water for drinking water, ag- Switzerland has long-standing climate policies. Since riculture and power generation. Parallel to the retreat of 2000 a specific CO2 Act has been established. Switzerland glaciers, the permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost) in had committed itself under the first commitment period of the high mountains also continues to thaw. More frequent the Kyoto Protocol and reached its target to reduce green- mountain and rock falls as well as debris slides that can house gas emissions to 92 percent of base year (1990) endanger transport links, infrastructure and human life emissions over the period 2008 to 2012, including through in the mountains are a result of this. Already today, large the use of carbon credits. At the beginning of 2013, the investments are necessary to secure infrastructures at second CO2 Act, a revision of the first CO2 Act, entered higher elevations. People are not only threatened by nat- into force, providing the framework of the Swiss climate ural disasters caused by climate change, but their health policy under the second commitment period of the Kyoto is also directly affected. Daily maximum temperatures in Protocol. Switzerland achieved the committed target – i.e. Switzerland have risen steadily since 1960. Hotter than a reduction to 84.2 percent of base year (1990) emissions usual summers have already led to higher mortalities. over the period 2013 to 2020 – thanks to decisive domestic action and the supplemental use of credits from emission reductions through projects abroad. Recently, the existing legal framework has again been subject to revision in view of Switzerland’s commitment under the Paris Agreement for the period from 2021 to 2030. Information on Switzer- land’s policies and measures which will help strengthen the implementation of its NDC can be found in Switzerland’s Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR).6 6 www.bafu.admin.ch/nc-btr (chapter II.D) Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 11 Additional contributions to the Paris Switzerland’s contribution to international Agreement goals climate finance and consistency of financial flows Switzerland’s NDC comprises a mitigation target only, in accordance with the Paris Agreement Article 4 and Switzerland takes seriously its commitment to provide the guidance from decision 4/CMA.1. Additional infor- and mobilize financial support, capacity building, and mation on Switzerland’s contributions to the global technology transfer for climate action in developing goal on adaptation or to international climate finance countries. Switzerland has and will continue to report can be found in the resources below. regularly on its provision of financial support to devel- oping countries, in the context of its Article 9.5 com- munication4. In past years, Switzerland has assessed Switzerland’s commitment to building its fair share towards the USD 100 billion goal to be resilience between 450 and 600 million Swiss francs per year. In 2022, Switzerland’s international climate finance con- Comprehensive information on adaptation strategies, tribution amounted 711 million Swiss francs in total, planning, measures and implementation are found in showing our steadfast commitment to effective climate Switzerland’s first adaptation communication under finance. Switzerland intends to continue to contribute the Paris Agreement (2020)1 and in Switzerland’s 8th its fair share in the context of the new collective quan- National Communication (2022)2. Additional informa- tified goal. tion is also available under Switzerland’s Long-Term Strategy and Supplement to the second NDC3. With the Climate and Innovation Act, Switzerland has taken a first legislative step in making financial flows consistent with a low-emission and climate resilient development pathway. According to the Act, the Con- federation will ensure that the Swiss financial market makes an effective contribution to low-emission and climate resilient development. This includes taking measures to reduce the climate impact of national and international financial flows. The Federal Council may conclude agreements with the financial sector aimed at making financial flows compatible with climate ob- jectives. 1 Switzerland’s adaptation communication has been submitted to the UNFCCC in December 2020: https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and- resilience/workstreams/adaptation-communications 2 www.bafu.admin.ch/nc-btr 3 Available under the Long-term strategies portal of the UNFCCC: 4 Available under the UNFCCC website: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/long-term-strategies https://unfccc.int/Art.9.5-biennial-communications Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 12 4 Information necessary for clarity, transparency and understanding of nationally determined contributions a. Reference year(s), base year(s), reference Base year: 1990 period(s) or other starting point(s) b. Quantifiable information on the reference Emissions in the base year comprise net emissions and removals from indicators, their values in the reference all sectors (including LULUCF) indirect CO2. A provisional value for year(s), base year(s), reference period(s) or base year emissions, subject to change due to recalculations of the other starting point(s), and, as applicable, greenhouse gas inventory, is 52.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents in the target year (based on the National Inventory Report from April 2024). The value for the final accounting will be defined in the inventory submission covering data up to 2035. Net emissions from LULUCF will be reported and accounted for on a land-based approach. Emissions from international aviation and shipping will be reported as a memo item. They are not yet accounted 1. towards Switzerland’s emission reduction targets for 2031-2035. Quantifiable c. For strategies, plans and actions referred information on to in article 4, paragraph 6, of the Paris the reference Agreement, or polices and measures as point components of nationally determined Not applicable. contributions where paragraph 1(b) above (including, as is not applicable, Parties to provide other appropriate, a relevant information base year) d. Target relative to the reference indicator, Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least minus 65 percent expressed numerically, for example in by 2035 compared with 1990 levels, to be implemented as an percentage or amount of reduction emission budget covering 2031–2035. The target corresponds to a greenhouse gas budget of 106.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents7, which is equivalent to an average reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 59 percent over the period 2031–2035. e. Information on sources of data used in National greenhouse gas inventory. quantifying the reference point(s) f. Information on the circumstances under Values of the reference indicators as provided in the national which the Party may update the values of greenhouse gas inventory are subject to recalculations in accordance the reference indicators with UNFCCC decision 18/CMA.1. Any recalculations are transparently reported in the national inventory document. a. Time frame and/or period for implementation, including start and end date, consistent with 2. any further relevant decision adopted by the 01.01.2031–31.12.2035 Conference of the Parties serving as the Time frames meeting of the Parties to the Paris and/or periods Agreement (CMA) for implemen- tation b. Whether it is a single-year or multi-year Switzerland expresses its second NDC both as single-year (2035) target, as applicable and multi-year target (2031–2035). The single-year target is implemented using an emission budget over the period 2031–2035. 7 Subject to recalculation, in accordance with UNFCCC decision 18/CMA.1 Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 13 a. General description of the target Absolute economy-wide emission reduction target compared with a base year. b. Sectors, gases, categories and pools Gases covered: CO2 (including indirect CO2), CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, covered by the nationally determined SF6, NF3 contribution, including, as applicable, consistent with Intergovernmental Panel Sectors covered (as reported in the national inventory report): on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines energy; industrial processes and product use; agriculture; land-use, land-use change and forestry; waste and other. Emissions from international aviation and maritime navigation as 3. reported as memo item in the national greenhouse gas inventory are not yet covered by the NDC, but they are due to contribute to the Scope and achievement of the net zero greenhouse gas objective by 2050. coverage c. How the Party has taken into consideration Switzerland includes all categories of anthropogenic emissions by paragraph 31(c) and (d) of decision 1/CP.21 sources or removals by sinks in its second NDC, as reported in its national greenhouse gas inventory. d. Mitigation co-benefits resulting from Parties’ adaptation actions and/or economic diversification plans, including description of specific projects, measures Not applicable. and initiatives of Parties’ adaptation actions and/or economic diversification plans Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 14 a. Information on the planning processes that the Party undertook to prepare its nationally determined contribution and, if available, on the Party’s implementation plans, including, as appropriate (i) Domestic institutional arrangements, Swiss climate policy is defined through direct democracy. Switzer- public participation and engagement land's multi-year target of at least minus 64 percent average with local communities and indigenous reduction compared to 1990 over the period 2031–2040 is set by the peoples, in a gender-responsive manner Climate and Innovation Act, which was subject to a nation-wide popular vote. The Act further inscribed the net-zero greenhouse gas emission target by 2050. The second NDC 2031–2035 corresponds to the Climate and Innovation Act and has been confirmed by the Federal Council. The Climate and Innovation Act is the blueprint for Switzerland's long-term climate policy. The law sets the objective of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as well as intermediate emission reduction targets for 2040, along with an average reduction over the period 2031–2040. The law includes indicative values for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the main sectors (building, transport and industry). It entered into force on January 1st 2025. The Climate and Innovation Act first responded to a popular initiative “For a healthy climate (glacier initiative)”, which was submitted in 2019, with a view to ban the consumption of fossil fuels such as gas and oil by 2050. As a compromise, the Swiss Parliament elaborated an indirect counter-proposal to this initiative, which incorporated the initiative's main objectives. The initiative committee then condition- ally withdrew the glacier initiative. A referendum was filed against 4. the counter-proposal of the Parliament, hence making it subject to a nation-wide popular vote. On June 18, 2023, the Swiss population Planning voted to accept the counter-proposal, entitled the Climate and processes Innovation Act. Without introducing any bans, the law provides for the reduction of oil and gas consumption, as well as the granting of financial support to encourage the ecological transition. The measures for achieving the climate targets defined in the Climate and Innovation Act are set out step by step in separate laws. These are primarily the CO2 Act, but also the Energy Act and agricultural policy. This approach ensures that measures are developed and debated in a democratic manner. The participation of all those concerned is thus guaranteed, as future legislative changes are subject to an optional referendum. According to the Constitution of the Swiss Confederation, the Swiss people together with the Cantons are sovereign and ultimately the supreme political authority. The most important formal instruments of Switzerland’s direct democracy are (i) the optional referendum which allows citizens to veto decisions made by the Swiss Parlia- ment, (ii) the mandatory referendum on each constitutional amendment, and (iii) the popular initiative by which citizens can propose amendments to the Constitution of the Swiss Confederation. For further information on domestic institutional arrangements, see Switzerland’s National Communications (NC) and Biennial Transpar- ency Reports (BTR): www.bafu.admin.ch/nc-btr. (ii) Contextual matters, including, inter alia, as appropriate: a. National circumstances, such as geography, climate, economy, Information on national circumstances can be found in Switzerland’s sustainable development and poverty National Communications and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). eradication Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 15 b. Best practices and experience related to the preparation of the nationally See 4a) determined contribution c. Other contextual aspirations and Climate change can only be solved in cooperation with all nations. priorities acknowledged when joining Switzerland recognizes the need for an effective and progressive the Paris Agreement response to the threat of climate change, in line with the best available scientific knowledge. Switzerland fully subscribes to the view that Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote, and consider their respective human rights obligations, including due consideration for gender equality and gender responsive policies, intergenerational equity, and the needs of particularly vulnerable groups. Switzerland is further committed to upholding environmental integrity, including the integrity of ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. b. Specific information applicable to Parties, including regional economic integration organizations and their member States, that have reached an agreement to act jointly under Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Not applicable. Paris Agreement, including the Parties that agreed to act jointly and the terms of the agreement, in accordance with Article 4, paragraphs 16–18, of the Paris Agreement; c. How the Party’s preparation of its Switzerland is committed to the implementation of the decision on the nationally determined contribution has first global stocktake (1/CMA.5). In the first global stocktake, Parties been informed by the outcomes of the recognized the Paris Agreement temperature goals and underscored global stocktake, in accordance with that the impacts of climate change will be much lower at the tempera- Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Paris ture increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with two degrees Celsius Agreement; and resolved to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. They also recognized that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius with no or limited overshoot requires deep, rapid and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions of 43 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035 relative to the 2019 level and reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. They encouraged Parties to come forward in their next nationally determined contributions with ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as informed by the IPCC, in the light of different national circumstances. Information on how Switzerland’s second NDC supports the recommen- dations of the IPCC, and specifically on alignment with the 1.5 degrees Celsius objective can be found under 7(b). Switzerland is answering the call for developed countries to take the lead by undertaking econo- my-wide absolute emission reduction targets. Finally, Switzerland’s second NDC is aligned with its Long-Term Strategy and its Supplement8, in accordance with paragraph 40 of the decision of the first global stocktake. Further information on how Switzerland intends to contribute to the global calls and objectives defined in the first global stocktake, Decision 1/CMA.5, can be found in Chapter 6 and in annex to this communication as well as in Switzerland’s Biennial Transparency Report. 8 Available on the Long-term strategies portal of the UNFCCC website: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/long-term-strategies Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 16 d. Each Party with a nationally determined contribution under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement that consists of adaptation action and/or economic diversification plans resulting in mitigation co-benefits consistent with Article 4, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement to submit information on: (i) How the economic and social consequences of response measures have been considered in developing the Not applicable. nationally determined contribution; (ii) Specific projects, measures and activities to be implemented to contribute to mitigation co-benefits, including information on adaptation plans that also yield mitigation co-benefits, which may cover, but are not limited to, key sectors, such as energy, resources, water resources, coastal resources, human settlements Not applicable. and urban planning, agriculture and forestry; and economic diversification actions, which may cover, but are not limited to, sectors such as manufactur- ing and industry, energy and mining, transport and communication, construction, tourism, real estate, agriculture and fisheries. Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 17 a. Assumptions and methodological The accounting approach is based on the national greenhouse gas approaches used for accounting for inventory. By doing so, scope, coverage, data sources, assumptions, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions methodologies, and metrics are fully consistent between Switzerland’s and removals corresponding to the Party’s NDC and the greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The methodologies nationally determined contribution, used ensure transparency, accuracy, completeness, consistency and consistent with decision 1/CP.21, comparability as far as can be achieved and avoid any double paragraph 31, and accounting guidance counting of emissions and removals, consistent with decisions adopted by the CMA 4/CMA.1 and 18/CMA.1. b. Assumptions and methodological approaches used for accounting for the implementation of policies and measures Not applicable. or strategies in the nationally determined contribution c. If applicable, information on how the Party The national greenhouse gas inventory is relying on metrics agreed will take into account existing methods upon by the CMA and methodologies and good practice guidance and guidance under the Convention to from the IPCC in order to provide a sound quantitative framework for account for anthropogenic emissions and accounting of anthropogenic emissions and removals. removals, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 14, of the Paris Agreement, as In order to foster environmental integrity and to reduce uncertainty 5. appropriate due to assumptions regarding extrapolated management practices Assumptions and other parameters influencing the calculation of reference levels, and methodo- Switzerland decided to use net accounting of emissions and logical removals in the LULUCF sector from 2021 onwards. approaches, d. IPCC methodologies and metrics used for Methodologies: including those estimating anthropogenic greenhouse gas (i) 2006 IPCC guidelines, 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC for estimating emissions and removals guidelines, or any subsequent version or refinement of the IPCC and accounting guidelines agreed upon by the CMA, as per UNFCCC decisions for anthropo- 4/CMA.1, paragraph 12.(a) and 18/CMA.1, paragraph 20; genic green- (ii) 2013 Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance house gas Arising from the Kyoto Protocol (IPCC 2014 KP Supplement) by the emissions and, IPCC; as appropriate, removals (iii) 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands (IPCC 2014 Wetlands Supplement). Metrics: 100-yr GWP values from 5th IPCC assessment report, or from a subsequent IPCC assessment report as agreed upon by the CMA, as per UNFCCC decision 18/CMA.1 paragraph 37. e. Sector-, category- or activity-specific assumptions, methodologies and approaches consistent with IPCC guidance, as appropriate, including, as applicable: (i) Approach to addressing emissions and subsequent removals from natural No provision for natural disturbances will be applied. disturbances on managed lands (ii) Approach used to account for emissions Harvested wood products are accounted for using a production and removals from harvested wood approach (only wood from domestic harvest), consistent with the 2013 products Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocol (IPCC 2014 KP Supplement). (iii) Approach used to address the effects Not applicable. of age-class structure in forests Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 18 f. Other assumptions and methodological approaches used for understanding the nationally determined contribution and, if applicable, estimating corresponding emissions and removals, including: (i) How the reference indicators, baseline(s) and/or reference level(s), including, where applicable, sector-, category- or activity-specific The reference indicator corresponds to net emissions and removals reference levels, are constructed, from all sectors (including LULUCF, see 5.(c)) and indirect CO2 as including, for example, key reported in the greenhouse gas emissions inventory. parameters, assumptions, definitions, methodologies, data sources and models used (ii) For Parties with nationally determined contributions that contain non-greenhouse-gas components, information on Not applicable. assumptions and methodological approaches used in relation to those components, as applicable (iii) For climate forcers included in nationally determined contributions not covered by IPCC guidelines, Not applicable. information on how the climate forcers are estimated (iv) Further technical information, as Not applicable. necessary g. The intention to use voluntary cooperation Switzerland will partly use internationally transferred mitigation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, if outcomes (ITMOs) from cooperation under Article 6. The share of applicable. emission reductions realized abroad will decrease for the 2031–2035 period compared to the pre-2030 period, consistent with the principle of progression. The percentage of domestic emission reductions will be determined in the context of parliamentary deliberations on the CO2 Law for the post-2030 period. Switzerland will implement all relevant Article 6 guidance adopted by the conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA), to apply robust rules that avoid any form of double counting, ensure environmental and social integrity and promote sustainable development, including the protection of human rights. As of February 2025, Switzerland signed bilateral agreements with Peru, Ghana, Senegal, Georgia, Vanuatu, Dominica, Thailand, Ukraine, Morocco, Malawi, Uruguay, Chile, and Tunisia, creating the necessary frameworks for cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. The agreements govern the transfers of miti- gation outcomes and their use9. The ITMOs may be used for other international mitigation purposes, such as e.g. voluntary climate targets by private actors, which would not be counted towards Switzerland’s NDC. 9 www.bafu.admin.ch > Topic > Climate > Information for specialists > International Affairs > Bilateral climate agreements Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 19 a. How the Party considers that its nationally It is important to Switzerland that the global community shares the determined contribution is fair and required efforts to combat global climate change in a fair and ambitious in the light of its national equitable manner and must be rooted in the best available science. circumstances It is in the interest of all Parties to come forward with their highest b. Fairness considerations, including possible ambition. It is important to recognize that equity and reflecting on equity fairness considerations are multifaceted, and that not one principle alone can adequately capture equity considerations. The evolving nature of a country’s circumstances should also be reflected in fairness considerations. Switzerland’s understanding of a fair share includes in particular consideration of the aspects below. • Equity should take into account responsibility for cumulative emissions, rooted in countries past, present, and future emissions. Total emissions, territorial and consumption-based, as well as per capita emissions are to be considered. Based on the polluter pays principle, countries who bear responsibility for emissions in the past and those who are responsible for a large proportion of emissions now, as well as those whose emissions are still rising, should demonstrate leadership and strive to put in place urgent emission 6. reductions that support a 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway. How the Party • Switzerland has a low level of cumulative greenhouse gas emissions considers that since 1990, contributing around 0.12 percent of cumulative global its nationally greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2021. Today, Switzerland emits determined around 0.08 percent of world’s greenhouse gas emissions and per contribution is capita emissions are below world’s average. Through climate policies fair and implemented domestically, Switzerland’s total share in global ambitious in the greenhouse gas emissions as well as per capita emissions continue to light of its decrease despite a substantial growth in real gross domestic product national (1990–2022: +68 percent) and population (1990–2022: +31 percent). circumstances • To respond to the urgency of climate action, equity considerations must take into account capacity. Major emitters and those with significant economic capacity should make significant contributions to climate action. Capacity to contribute to solving the climate problem is closely related to the ability to invest in appropriate mitigation measures, such as carbon-efficient technologies. Hence, one aspect of capacity is to take into account GDP per capita in fairness considerations. • Finally, international cooperation to build capabilities for low carbon and climate-resilient development in all countries is a vital part of any serious approach to addressing climate change. Switzerland continues to support its partner countries to increase their climate action. Based on equity considerations outlined above, Switzerland is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with emission reduction pathways that keep the increase in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Switzerland remains open to discuss a framework to transparently consider Parties’ equitable contributions to the global effort of keeping within the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal. Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 20 c. How the Party has addressed Article 4, Article 4, paragraph 3 of the Paris Agreement provides that each paragraph 3, of the Paris Agreement Party’s NDC will present a progression beyond the Party’s first NDC and reflect its highest possible ambition. Switzerland’s second NDC reflects a progression beyond its first NDC in several areas: Strengthened emission reduction objective (headline objective) Switzerland’s emission reduction objective of minus at least 65 percent by 2035 compared to 1990, to be implemented as an emission budget of 106.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents covering 2031–2035, which is equivalent to an average reduction of green- house gas emissions by at least 59 percent over the period 2031–2035, is strengthened, compared with its first NDC of at least minus 50 percent by 2030 compared to 1990, corresponding to an average reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35 per cent over the period 2021–2030. Increased domestic emission reductions The share of emission reductions realized abroad will decrease for the 2031–2035 period compared to the pre-2030 period, consistent with the principle of progression. The percentage of domestic emission reductions will be determined in the context of parliamen- tary deliberations on the third CO2 Law. Strengthened measures and legislative framework Switzerland’s second NDC further presents an enhanced policy and legislative framework, including new and strengthened measures, intermediate and sectoral targets, as well as a long-term net-zero target 2050 and a net-negative pathway defined in domestic law. Strengthened accounting and baseline methodology Switzerland’s second NDC includes a carbon budget, which provides new quantitative precision towards quantification of future emis- sions. Switzerland will account for changes in net emissions and removals in the LULUCF sector, using a land-based approach, covering all land-uses. By doing so, the uncertainties related to the calculation of reference levels are avoided and a more robust accounting is achieved. Inclusion of new sectors towards 2050 According to the Climate and Innovation Act, international aviation and maritime navigation will contribute to the achievement of the net zero objective by 2050. These emissions are not yet accounted towards Switzerland’s emission reduction targets for 2031-2035. d. How the Party has addressed Article 4, Article 4, paragraph 4 of the Paris Agreement provides for developed paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement countries, such as Switzerland, to continue taking the lead by undertak- ing economy-wide emission reduction targets. Switzerland has a long history of concrete climate policy measures and a CO2 Act since 2000. The country had absolute economy-wide emission reduction targets both under the first and second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and continues to formulate absolute economy-wide targets. e. How the Party has addressed Article 4, Not applicable. paragraph 6, of the Paris Agreement Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 21 a. How the nationally determined contribution The Paris Agreement has been adopted in the context of the contributes towards achieving the UNFCCC and specifies its provisions. Thus any actions and measures objective of the Convention as set out in taken in view of Article 2.1a and 4.1 of the Paris Agreement, as per its Article 2 this NDC, serve the objective of the Convention. b. How the nationally determined contribution Switzerland’s second NDC is consistent with Article 2.1(a) to hold the contributes towards Article 2, paragraph increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees 1(a), and Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit Paris Agreement temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Switzerland’s second NDC keeps Switzerland on an emission development pathway in line with the recommendations of the IPCC to keep average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The sixth assessment report of the IPCC, published in 2023, confirmed the findings of the IPCC special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees

7. Celsius published in 2018. It reiterated that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak as early as this decade and then decline rapidly How the and substantially. Scenarios in which global warming does not exceed nationally 1.5 degrees Celsius with a probability of 50 percent achieve net zero determined for CO2 emissions in the early 2050s and net zero for all greenhouse contribution gases in the 2070s. In these scenarios, global greenhouse gases contributes would have to be reduced by 43 percent by 2030, 60 percent by 2035 towards and 84 percent by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. According to the achieving the IPCC, there is a global CO2 budget of 500 gigatonnes of CO2 from objective of the 2020 onwards. At the same time, there needs to be a significant Convention as reduction in the other greenhouse gases, particularly methane. In the set out in its meantime, this budget has decreased further. According to the UNEP Article 2 Emissions Gap Report 2024, from 2025 only 200 gigatonnes of CO2 will be available to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius with a probability of 50 percent. Switzerland’s second NDC puts Switzerland slightly above an emission development pathway that responds to the recommenda- tions of the IPCC to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 60 percent from 2019 levels by 2035 (equivalent to 62.5 percent by 2035 compared to 1990). Switzerland’s net zero objective is more ambitious than the IPCC’s recommendation to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, by incorporating all greenhouse gas emissions, including international aviation and shipping. Furthermore, a clear trajectory is established towards net-zero by 2050, underpinned by sectoral and intermediate targets. Solar panels on the Monte Rosa hut at the Gorner Glacier. Photo: Peter Baracchi / FOEN Switzerland’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement 2031–2035 23 5 Implementation framework and contributions to the global stocktake The legislative framework • With the ongoing revision of the CO2 Ordinance (to be adopted in spring 2025), the Swiss Federal Council In its national legislation, the international commitment aims at establishing – by agreement with the parties translates as follows: concerned – sectoral targets to be reached by 2030; • The second revision of the CO2 Act requires an annu- • The deliberations on the CO2 Act for the post-2030 period al reduction of 1.5 percent relative to the 1990 level have begun in 2025, and will determine the package of during the years 2021–2024. At least 75 percent of the climate policy measures underpinning the period reduction of emissions must be achieved with domestic 2031–2035, covered by this NDC. measures, the remainder with measures abroad; Switzerland’s national targets for the reduction of green- • The third revision of the CO2 Act requires a reduction house gas emissions are identical in scope to Switzerland’s of total greenhouse gas emissions (relative to 1990) nationally determined contribution. Further information by on the legislative framework and sectoral strategies can − at least 50 percent by 2030 and be found in Switzerland’s Long-Term Strategy and its − at least 35 percent in the mean over the years Supplement10. 2021–2030, primarily with measures in Switzerland, but also allowing for measures abroad; • The Climate and Innovation Act requires net-zero Further information on Switzerland’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a reduction the global commitments of the first global stocktake of total greenhouse gas emissions (relative to 1990) can be found in the Annex to this communication: by www.bafu.admin.ch > Annex to Switzerland’s second − at least 64 percent in the mean over the years NDC 2031–2035: Contributions to the outcome of the 2031–2040, first Global Stocktake − at least 75 percent by 2040, and − at least 89 percent in the mean over the years 2041–2050; as far as possible, the targets must be achieved by reducing emissions in Switzerland; • The Climate and Innovation Act also sets out the following sectoral targets (reductions relative to 1990): − Buildings sector: By at least 82 percent by 2040 and by 100 percent by 2050; − Transport sector (excluding international aviation): By at least 57 percent by 2040 and by 100 percent by 2050; − Industry sector: By at least 50 percent by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050; 10 Available on the Long-term strategies portal of the UNFCCC website: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/long-term-strategies