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Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss government is committed to cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of 20 percent compared to 1990, and a proposed new law sent to Parliament 28 August outlines how it wants to achieve that goal.
The measures proposed are to:
keep the current tax of CHF36 per tonne of CO2 on heating fuels
budget at least CHF 200 million towards reducing heat loss in buildings through improvements in roofs and windows
oblige importers and producers of fuels to off-set at least one-quarter the CO2 produced in the country,
and to improve and extend the countrys existing carbon emission trading system (ETS) with a view to integrating it with the European ETS.
The government may introduce a carbon tax at the petrol pump if necessary, and will introduce a compulsory carbon emissions rating for all new cars.
Copenhagen conference may force modifications
The proposal admits that negotiations in the upcoming UN climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December may commit participating industrialized countries to even tougher reductions, so the government may have to cut emissions by 30 percent by the year 2020, over the 1990 level, if necessary. Should the binding decisions taken by the climate conference participants require that the proposed law be amended, the government will modify its proposal.
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