Swiss Climate Foundation with record year

Dry summers, heavy precipitation, more heat days and winters with little snow: The climate scenarios presented by ETH Zurich in 2018 are unambiguous. They show with high geographical precision what climate change will mean for Switzerland: While the vegetable farmer will have to irrigate his vegetables in 2060, the homeowner is already evacuating her cellar because of extreme precipitation.

"But the report doesn't just present the looming dangers," says Vincent Eckert, executive director of the Swiss Climate Foundation. "It also shows that climate change can at least be mitigated with decisive action."

Funding amount increased by more than one third

More and more Swiss and Liechtenstein SMEs are taking measures to improve climate protection. In its anniversary year, the foundation was able to provide financial support to around 350 SMEs. The amount of funding increased by 37% compared to the previous year. "Especially in the area of innovation, companies are submitting more and better funding applications to us," Eckert notes. If an SME develops a product for climate protection, it can apply for funding from the Swiss Climate Foundation.

The number of energy efficiency projects also increased: the foundation was able to provide financial support for almost 100 projects with which SMEs save energy in their own operations. The promotion of e-mobility, among other things, has risen sharply in this area, as shown in the annual report of the Swiss Climate Foundation published today.

Well positioned thanks to partner companies

The Foundation continues and strengthens its promotional activities. Financially, it is well positioned and can increase its effectiveness thanks to the 27 partner companies: Large service providers from Switzerland and Liechtenstein donate their net rebate from the CO2 emissions tax to the joint foundation. The agreements with the partner companies currently run until the end of 2020. The foundation has already started the strategic process "post 2020".

Managing Director Vincent Eckert likes to look back on a successful year, "but we'd even rather look forward, to a future that we're now planning together with our partner companies."

About the Swiss Climate Foundation

Protecting the climate. Strengthening SMEs. According to this motto, the Swiss Climate Foundation supports projects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that contribute to climate protection. Since its establishment in 2008, the foundation has awarded grants totaling 20 million Swiss francs to over 1,400 SMEs in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The Swiss Climate Foundation was established as a non-profit, independent foundation. It is under federal supervision and is open to interested companies that want to strengthen climate protection through efficient and targeted use of the redistribution from the CO2 steering levy.

Since January 2008, the CO2 Act has required a levy on fuels. Part of the levy flows back to the economy. Large service companies in particular receive more back than they have paid. The partner companies of the Swiss Climate Foundation use this "net rebate" for climate protection measures of Swiss and Liechtenstein SMEs.

The partners of the Swiss Climate Foundation

The Swiss and Liechtenstein service providers Allianz Suisse, Alternative Bank Switzerland, AXA, Bank J. Safra Sarasin, ECA Vaud, Gebäudeversicherung Bern, Gebäudeversicherung Kanton Zürich, Glarner Kantonalbank, Julius Bär, LGT, Liechtensteinische Landesbank, Man Investments, NewRe, PartnerRe, Pictet & Cie, PwC Switzerland, Raiffeisen Switzerland, RobecoSAM, Sanitas Krankenversicherung, SAP (Schweiz) AG, SCOR, Swiss Life, Swiss Re, Vaudoise Assurances, Vontobel, VP Bank and AXA XL are partners of the Swiss Climate Foundation.

More information: www.klimastiftung.ch