Genève

Vaud

Glarus

Valais

Graubünden

Jura

Zürich

Luzern

Neuchâtel

Nidwalden

Obwalden

Aargau

Sankt Gallen

Appenzell Innerrhoden

Schaffhausen

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Solothurn

Berne

Schwyz

Basel-Landschaft

Thurgau

Basel-Stadt

Ticino

Fribourg

Switzerland

Reduce its national greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent as compared with 1990 levels by 2020.

20% of GHG emissions (with additional possible commitments) by 2020 against with a 1990 baseline

Reduce energy consumption per person and per annum by 16% in 2020 and by 43% by 2035 by 2020, 2035 against a 2000 baseline

Reduce electricity consumption per person and per annum by 3% in 2020 and by 13% by 2035 by 2020, 2035 against a 2000 baseline

Building sector to emit no more than 78% of 1990 emissions by 2015 against a 1990 baseline

Industry sector to emit no more than 93% of 1990 emissions by 2015 against a 1990 baseline

At least 4,400 GWh of non-hydro renewable energy by 2020 and at least 11,400 GWh by 2035

At least 37,400 GWh of hydroelectric energy by 2035

Transport sector to emit no more than 100% of 1990 emissions by 2015

In March 2024, nine Swiss farmers and five farming interest associations petitioned the Swiss Department of Environment, Transport, Energy, and Communication (DETEC) to increase government action to defend against rising droughts that harm their livelihoods. The following claims were made.
1. The government should be ordered to take every measure capable of reducing the impacts of climate change and chronic drought on Swiss territory. 
2. The Swiss government violated Article 10 of the Swiss Constitution and Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the right to life.
3. A violation of Article 13 of the Swiss Constitution and Article 8 of the ECHR regarding the right to private life
4. A violation of Article 26 of the Swiss Constitution regarding the right to property
5. A violation of Article 27 of the Swiss Constitution regarding the right to economic liberty
6. A violation of the climate objectives and environmental protection requirements enshrined in domestic legislation to ensure respect for the Paris Agreement 

The petitioners made these claims under the Swiss Federal Administrative Procedure Act, which states the government should refrain from alleged unlawful acts impacting “petitioners’ human and constitutional rights.” 

In September 2024, DETEC rejected the petitioners on standing grounds, citing that they lacked a harm more intense than that experienced by other segments of the population. 

In October 2024, the petitioners appealed the decision on three main grounds: 
1. Ignoring the ECtHR’s ruling in KlimaSeniorinnen, which violates federal law and the binding force of judgments regarding the ECtHR
2. The emphasis on standing regarding the severe economic and health losses facing farmers
3. Violation of fair trial and access to justice entitlements 

The current status of the case is pending before the Swiss Federal Administrative Tribunal. 


During a street occupation in Neuchâtel in March 2020, several Extinction Rebellion activists were charged with taking part in an unauthorized demonstration and with violating the road traffic act and the traffic regulations ordinance. Out of the 15 accused that opposed their penal order, 14 were found guilty in the first and second instance. The remaining person was acquitted in virtue of her role in the protest (legal observer).

Since April 2022, the Swiss group “Renovate Switzerland” has organized regular traffic blockades across Switzerland to raise awareness about the climate crisis. As of now, at least three actions led to criminal trials (two in Zürich: GB230004, 27.2.2023, GB230015, 29.08.2023; one in Geneva: P/24201/2022, 27.1.2024) because the activists did not accept their penal orders. In all three cases, activists were found guilty of coercion (art. 181, Swiss Criminal Code, CC) and disruption of public services (art. 239 CC). In all three cases, defendants accepted the judgement and did not appeal to the second instance. In Switzerland, the condemnation of coercion is usually suspended for 2 years, unless the defendant violates the terms. In this case coercion leads to an entry into the criminal record.

The Fair Advertising Commission (FAC) is a non-judicial body that examines complaints alleging violations of the Swiss Fairness Principles in Commercial Communication.

The Foundation for Consumer Protection (Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz) filed a complaint with the FAC against a heating oil provider (Kübler Heizöl) concerning the company’s advertisement of its heating oil product as “climate neutral” (case 168/23).

The FAC held that this advertisement was misleading and recommended that the company refrain from it:
“The complaint is upheld. The respondent is recommended to refrain from making the contested statement "xxxxxxxx heating oil is climate-neutral" in future, unless it creates a clear reference to the company and can provide full proof at the time of communication that all climate-relevant effects associated with production have been calculated using generally accepted methods, as well as unquestionable proof that these climate-relevant effects have been fully offset.” (translation from German)

Geography

Switzerland

Recent cases