Protecting Climate and Biodiversity

The biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis are the greatest human-made threats to our livelihoods.

The two crises reinforce each other, and humanity finds itself caught in the middle. If we tackle both crises together, we create a win-win situation. ‘We’ means Swiss society, business, and politics. A secure Swiss energy supply by 2035 is achievable.

Every day, up to 150 animal and plant species become extinct worldwide. Deadly heatwaves and wildfires are becoming more frequent.

The biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis are the greatest human-made threats to our livelihoods. Protecting them means protecting ourselves.

Thomas Vellacott, CEO of WWF

To achieve this, Switzerland needs a forward-looking energy supply that produces net zero CO2 emissions by 2035. And a mindful approach to the habitats of thousands of animal and plant species. «With good planning, it is a win for both climate and biodiversity», said Vellacott. The solutions are clear.

Saving and using energy efficiently

If we use energy more efficiently and consume it more sparingly, we can reduce our total energy consumption by 41 percent by 2035. This is inexpensive, produces no CO2, and places no burden on the environment whatsoever. «It is time to put an end to energy waste», said Anders Gautschi, CEO of VCS. «With Mobility, we have a prime example of how switching to electric cars combined with a car-sharing system can significantly reduce energy consumption.»

Solar power makes it possible

A rapid expansion of photovoltaics on existing infrastructure will help meet growing electricity demand. «Better electricity from the rooftop than a dried-up stream», said Iris Menn, CEO of Greenpeace. A facility on the noise barrier of the Forch motorway near Zumikon shows how this can work. In Valais and in the Knonauer Amt, even larger installations are being planned. To protect biodiversity, it is preferable to install solar systems on existing buildings, structures, and sealed surfaces. «The legal regulations must give clear priority to these area categories, so that they account for between 80 and 90 percent of the additional construction volume in the medium term», said Menn.

Energy security through domestic expansion

Today we depend on energy imports for three quarters of our needs. This jeopardizes Switzerland's energy security. According to calculations by the Environmental Alliance, renewable electricity production should be expanded by an additional 38 TWh by 2035. This will keep net imports well below the critical threshold of 5–10 TWh set by Elcom. «Domestic solutions take priority here. The answers are: expanding photovoltaics, reducing energy consumption, and demand-oriented use of pumped storage hydropower», said Nils Epprecht, Managing Director of SES.

A rapid energy transition, well planned

«An energy transition forced through with a crowbar is not only dangerous, but also unnecessary», said Urs Leugger, Central Secretary of Pro Natura. Because: the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis are two sides of the same coin. They can only be solved together. Intact nature serves, for example through peatlands, as a CO2 sink and stores large quantities of greenhouse gases. «If conflicts of interest are addressed early, interests are carefully weighed, and sites and projects are planned with foresight, it becomes a win-win for nature and energy supply», said Leugger. Such overarching planning has been achieved, for example, through the Protection and Use Concept for Renewable Energies (SNEE) in the canton of Uri.

Investing in climate action now

Today, around 50 billion francs per year are invested in the conversion and expansion of energy infrastructure — for example in the installation of heat pumps, charging stations for electric vehicles, or photovoltaic systems on rooftops. To achieve the net-zero target by 2035, an additional three to four billion francs per year would need to be invested. «This is achievable and creates new jobs. Everyone benefits», said Vellacott.

The solutions are there — politics makes their implementation possible

The Environmental Alliance has defined four priority areas for policy. First, a binding deadline for phasing out fossil fuels is needed. «The canton of Glarus has shown us that we can very successfully say goodbye to oil and gas», said Raffael Ayé of BirdLife. Second, there is a need for mandates and incentives such as steering levies that help society waste less energy. «A majority of the population supports an air ticket levy», said Ayé. Third, a solar standard for buildings should be introduced. This would require buildings to cover suitable rooftops with photovoltaic panels to the maximum extent. «Finally, it is important that policymakers recognise the climate and biodiversity crisis as two equally significant, mutually reinforcing crises — only then will we make rapid progress».

Further information
All fact sheets and the flyer can be downloaded from this website: www.energiewende2035.umweltallianz.ch