CCPI 2024: Switzerland does not make it into the top 20
Switzerland has improved by one place and ranks 21st in the current Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2024), i.e. in a middle place overall. Switzerland once again fails to make it into the top 20 and is outperformed by the Philippines, Germany, Morocco and India, among others. The Climate Change Performance Index published by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network is a ranking of 63 countries plus the EU as a whole, which together are responsible for more than 90 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Most important results:
- Switzerland has improved by one place and ranks 21st in the current CCPI, i.e. in a middle position.
- In June 2023, Switzerland adopted a climate law that sets a net zero target for 2050.
- Key demands: Accelerate the expansion of renewable energies and set a clear date for phasing out fossil fuels¨
The experts see Switzerland as a progressive player in international climate policy in terms of climate protection and ambition, but would like to see the country contribute more to climate financing. "We are all so late on climate policy and that's not a good sign, it's worrying," says Prof. Dr. Niklas Höhne, one of the founders of the NewClimate Institute.
Commentary by Georg Klingler, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Switzerland:
"After Switzerland's once again poor ranking, politicians must wake up from their deep sleep. The climate protection country comparison makes it clear that the efforts made so far are not enough and that we are at the bottom of the league when it comes to climate issues. The overwhelming Yes to the Climate Protection Act last June shows that the population wants an ambitious policy. DETEC's decision to delay the implementation of this law is completely incomprehensible."
"To catch up, the federal government must stop embellishing its climate efforts with CO2 offsetting and accounting tricks. Switzerland must reduce its domestic emissions by at least 60 percent by 2030 - instead of the currently planned 34 percent. At the same time, Switzerland should become more involved abroad. It must take measures that will enable it to achieve significant emission reductions in third countries by 2030 in addition to the reductions at home. The Swiss Climate Seniors have taken these two demands to the European Court of Human Rights. A ruling is expected in 2024 and the case is considered a precedent."
"As a rich country that has benefited from fossil fuels throughout its history, Switzerland has a responsibility to pursue an ambitious climate policy. It must rapidly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and close the gap between its current climate protection pathway and the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. If everyone were to act like Switzerland, this would lead to global warming of 2 to 3 degrees. A warming that approaches 3 degrees will endanger the survival of a large part of humanity. Switzerland's policy therefore jeopardizes our human rights."
Source: www.ccpi.org www.greenpeace.ch
