Climate ranking: Switzerland moves up two places
Keystone-SDA
Switzerland has moved up two places in the Climate Change Performance Index, reaching 24th place.
Despite this slight improvement, it remains in the middle of the rankings, which were presented today on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) currently taking place in Antalya, Turkey.
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Published by the environmental organisations Germanwatch and the New Climate Institute, the ranking compares greenhouse gas emissions, the development of renewable energy, energy consumption and climate policy across 64 countries and the European Union, which together account for over 90% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Bern scores relatively well in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Its climate policy, however, is subject to harsher criticism from experts. In their view, Switzerland will not succeed in meeting its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030.
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In their view, too few effective measures are being implemented within the country.
The federal government is also criticised for relying too heavily on emissions reductions abroad. “Instead of relying on uncertain and unfair emissions reductions abroad, Switzerland must reduce its own emissions more rapidly within its own borders,” said Patrick Hofstetter, a climate protection and energy expert at WWF Switzerland, in a joint press release from WWF and Greenpeace.
Top three places vacant
As in previous years, the top three places in the ranking remain vacant. The reason given is that no country in the world is taking sufficient measures to prevent dangerous climate change and fully achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
Denmark follows, ranking 4th, ahead of Lithuania and Luxembourg. Switzerland is behind France (20th), but ahead of its other neighbouring countries such as Germany (25th), Austria (33rd) and Italy (41st). At the bottom of the ranking are Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United States and Iran.
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Translated from Italian, reviewed by an English Department journalist.
