Canton Lucerne formulates environmental goals

The environment is an important element of location quality in the canton of Lucerne. Population, economic, settlement and traffic growth leave their mark on large parts of the canton. Preserving the natural foundations of life is therefore becoming increasingly important. In the 2015-2019 legislative program, the canton commits itself to using its resources sparingly. With the Environmental Report 2018, the Canton of Lucerne fulfills this obligation and also fulfills the mandate from the Environmental Protection Act to regularly inform the population about the status of environmental pollution.

Condition of the environment illuminated
On the one hand, the Environmental Report 2018 highlights a number of environmentally relevant activities such as settlement development, mobility, agriculture and industry; on the other hand, it describes the state of various environmental areas such as air, water and soil. Although their condition has improved over the past 20 years, there is still a need for action. For example, although air quality has improved, pollutant emissions are still too high. With the exception of small lakes and ponds, water quality is now good in many water bodies. Pollutant input into the soil has also decreased, but fertility has declined and sealing has increased.

Five challenges
In addition to the need for action, the environmental report formulates targets for 2030 for each topic. Five challenges can be derived from this:

1. settlement development and mobility: settlement development influences mobility. Both areas must be coordinated to create better conditions for the use of public transport.
2. nutrient surpluses and pollutants: The livestock density in the canton of Lucerne is above average in a Swiss comparison. Thus, emissions of nutrients can lead to an impairment of air, soil, water bodies and to nutrient-poor biotopes. Nutrient surpluses must therefore be avoided and pollutants from agriculture reduced.
3. cycles and resource-saving technologies: cycles (agriculture, waste management) must be closed. In doing so, it is important to use resource-saving technologies. The goal is to continue to increase recycling rates and to close as many material cycles as possible.
4. renewable energies: The canton of Lucerne has set itself the goal of doubling the share of renewable energies in total energy consumption by 2030 compared to 2007. At the same time, energy efficiency must be increased.
5. water and water bodies: pressure on cantonal water bodies and water resources is increasing - especially due to animal-intensive agriculture and heavy construction activity.
 

Cross-thematic collaboration needed
Unlike before the turn of the millennium, it is no longer enough to look at environmental areas such as air and water individually and improve their condition. The current challenges must be tackled in a cross-cutting manner and in cooperation with polluters and other stakeholders.
 
Environmental monitoring provides basics
The environmental report is based on environmental monitoring data that are regularly collected in the canton of Lucerne. The environmental goals formulated in the report largely refer to existing strategic foundations of the Lucerne authorities (e.g. the cantonal structure plan) or the federal government (e.g. environmental goals for agriculture).

The Lucerne Environmental Report is published in addition to "Environment Switzerland", the report of the Federal Council, which is published at least every four years and can be downloaded from the Website of the Environment and Energy Service of the Department of Construction, Environment and Economy.