Switzerland on the path to a long-term climate strategy
Switzerland wants to live up to its climate policy responsibility: The Federal Council decided on the net zero target by 2050 and submitted its strategy to the UN Climate Convention. This topic was presented at the 1st Energy Transition Congress in May by competent personalities with objectives, background and measures.
The place where 1st Energy Transition Congress was wisely chosen: The panel of experts discussed in the factory hall of the Jenni Energy Technology AG in Oberburg near Burgdorf - the audience listened via screen. Despite controversial opinions, the result shows that considerable efforts are still needed to achieve the set net zero target by 2050. At least there is a clear trend of where the future is headed. The age of coal and oil is soon coming to an end. It is therefore important that Switzerland is not left behind when it comes to climate protection. In order to achieve the net zero target, a rapid and comprehensive reduction of domestic greenhouse gas emissions is needed. At the moment, the Alpine country is lagging behind in the reduction of CO2-emissions are lagging far behind. The target is not being met in all areas, and buildings and road traffic in particular must become virtually free of fossil emissions, said Andrea Burkhardt, head of the Climate Division of the Federal Office for the Environment (cf. here)
The climate debate is boosting solar companies, which are working to capacity and looking for skilled workers. However, photovoltaics, the cheapest renewable energy source, is being treated stepmotherly by the federal government, according to the prevailing opinion 1st Energy Turnaround Congress. In order to make up for the winter electricity shortfall with solar energy, the increased use of storage options is also needed. The CO2-compensation obligation, on the other hand, should trigger climate-friendly investments.
Net zero target: realistic and feasible
The path to a climate-neutral future must be broadly coordinated internationally. The unanimous opinion at the 1st Energy Transition Congress was that Switzerland must not go it alone, because this is the only way to successfully protect the climate and avoid a competitive disadvantage for Switzerland. Targets alone are of no use; measures and appropriate framework conditions are needed, as well as initiative and creativity on the part of industry and research. A number of experts criticized the lack of framework conditions, saying that the course had not yet been properly set. That is why the climate targets of 2020 have not yet been achieved.
The business community is part of the solution to the climate problem. However, it wants effective, cost-effective and economically compatible implementation without risking damage to the attractiveness of the location. The causes of greenhouse gas emissions are well known. They are mainly in the areas of transportation, traffic, buildings, agriculture and industry. Globally, 48 billion tons of climate-relevant emissions are released into the atmosphere every year, and Switzerland accounts for 46 million tons or 0.9 per thousand. The organization Climate Strike with its action plan (Climate Action Plan(CAP) therefore calls for a faster reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and more financial resources for poorer countries. According to CAP, Switzerland should already be at net zero by 2030.
Weak Expansion of new renewable energies
The energy transition is also a question of storage options. Saving heat from summer to winter is technically feasible nowadays, but many such projects are prevented by federal court rulings. Josef Jenny, owner of the host company: "Action is needed from entrepreneurs, because the constant reference to research means a mere wait and see."
Rudolf Rechsteiner's analysis, published by the Swiss Energy Foundation (SES), shows that solar and wind power have become the most favorable technologies for electricity production in recent decades. But Switzerland ranks a poor 24th in Europe for the share of wind and solar power. In 2017, the addition of photovoltaics even fell to its lowest level since the introduction of the cost-covering feed-in tariff ten years ago. The expansion of photovoltaics is urgently needed. Facades, noise barriers, roadsides, avalanche barriers and roofs would be ideal for such an offensive. However, there is regular opposition from the Department of Homeland Security, which takes the matter to court - something the experts at the congress sharply criticized. Solar panels on facades, for example, could provide a lot of electricity in the winter months, but the Federal Energy Office does not have a facade program. Another possibility would be floating PV panels on reservoirs; solar power generated in this way is cheaper than power from new hydropower. The one-sided distribution of funds from the federal government is also criticized, because new hydropower receives twice to four times higher financing contributions than new solar power, although the latter could supply more winter electricity per franc of investment than new run-of-river power plants if the solar panels were aligned vertically.
The decisive factor is political will
According to experts and Economiesuisse, the envisaged climate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent compared with the base year 1990 is realistic and feasible. The remaining 10 percent must be offset with negative emissions both at home and abroad. The decisive factor, however, is political will, because a large number of measures are still needed, as well as initiative on the part of individuals who will assume their own responsibility. The call of the congress: More decentralized storage and framework conditions adapted to the circumstances.
