Switzerland’s target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a massive undertaking that will require coordinated action by politicians, industry and the public, according to the Swiss Academy of Sciences.
The Alpine state must ramp up its photovoltaic energy production by at least one gigawatt a year and replace fossil fuels with alternatives based on synthetics, hydrogen and methane, the Academy stated.
Producing alternative fuels domestically would be too costly in terms of energy consumption. The government should therefore arrange for supplies that could be produced in hot countries, such as Africa or the Middle East, said Urs Neu, head of the Academy’s Energy Commission.
Switzerland itself must make a coordinated effort to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, manufacturing and transport.
Role of technology
The Academy warned that an incoherent approach to achieving energy efficiency could backfire. For example, installing heating pumps into homes could result in a greater demand for electricity consumption if the building has not first been renovated.
Technology can also play a role in achieving net zero targets by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and exploring permanent storage options.
Finally, the Swiss population must also make an effort to reduce energy demand by turning down heating in homes and reducing wastage of electricity.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Switzerland is Europe’s most innovative country, EU study finds
This content was published on
In the European Commission's annual ranking, the Swiss score dropped slightly in 2025, but not enough to cost it top spot.
Women’s Euro 2025 has been largely peaceful so far
This content was published on
After two weeks of football fever in various Swiss host cities, no major incidents have been reported so far, police say.
Planned solar park at Bern airport scaled back after talks
This content was published on
The ground-mounted plant at Belpmoos Airport will be smaller than originally planned, the parties involved said on Tuesday.
This content was published on
A report by the McKinsey consulting firm says Switzerland has an estimated indirect influence on 2-3% of global CO2 emissions.
Switzerland consumes nearly three planets’ worth of natural resources
This content was published on
Switzerland has already consumed its fair share of the planet’s natural resources for the entire year, according to Global Footprint Network.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.