Switzerland strongly affected by climate change

On March 2, the National Council discussed the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement. The implementation has a greater importance for Switzerland than for many other countries, because the effects of global warming are massive in this country.

This United Nations agreement aims to limit the average global temperature increase compared with pre-industrial times to below 2 degrees Celsius. If possible, a maximum rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius is even targeted. However, this goal can only be achieved with drastically reduced CO2 emissions.

Much less snow, 10 times more tropical nights, 3 times more heat days
The report "Focus on Climate Switzerland. Basics Consequences and Perspectives" by ProClim of the Swiss Academy of Sciences shows that Switzerland is affected by climate change to an above-average extent. Compared to the global average, the average annual temperature here has risen about twice as much over the last 150 years, at 1.8 degrees Celsius. If the "2 degree target" of the Paris Agreement is achieved, this means a total warming for Switzerland compared to pre-industrial times of 3 to 3.5 degrees by the end of the century. If not enough efforts are made and the global temperature rises by 3 degrees, for example, the annual mean temperatures in this country would rise by 4 to 5 degrees by the end of the century.

Warming has striking consequences for health, for example: if the 2-degree target is achieved ("2-degree world"), climate researchers expect an average of about 5 tropical nights (today 1-2) and 15-20 heat days (today 10-15) per year in the Central Plateau by 2085. With a global warming of 3 degrees ("3-degree world"), on the other hand, there will be 15 to 20 tropical nights and about 30 to 40 heat days, with higher maximum temperatures at the same time.

Stronger warming also has noticeable consequences for snow tourism: The snowline in the 3-degree world would rise by about 500 meters in altitude by 2085 compared to today, instead of 250 meters as in the 2-degree world, and the average snow depth would decrease by about 60% instead of 30%. The snow season would also be markedly shorter.

These are just a few examples of the many impacts of climate change in Switzerland, as described in detail in the report "Focus on Climate Switzerland".

International actions in demand
Precisely because Switzerland is particularly affected by climate change in an international comparison, globally coordinated action is important for it. This is the only way to curb climate change. By cooperating with the community of states, Switzerland can use its internationally good reputation to
and their innovative strength to set a good example and show that prosperity and climate protection can be reconciled.

National Council Commission gives "go
The international Paris Agreement obliges all countries to voluntarily submit national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to take domestic measures to achieve these targets. However, the targets submitted by countries to date are still far from sufficient to achieve the 2-degree target.
The 2-degree target means that greenhouse gas emissions must fall to zero in the 2nd half of the 21st century. For Switzerland, the Federal Council has now formulated the target of a 50 percent reduction by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. The National Council's Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy already discussed the convention on January 31, 2017, and approved it for ratification in this form. However, two minorities would like to ratify the convention, but with a reduction target of 40 and 60 percent respectively. Another minority is asking for the proposal not to be adopted. It is clear that the less Switzerland reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the more it will shift the problem onto future generations.

Text: Academies Switzerland