814.310
Federal Act
on Climate Protection Goals, Innovation
and Strengthening Energy Security
(CIA)
of 30 September 2022 (Last amended on 1 January 2025)
Preamble
The Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation,
based on Articles 74 and 89 of the Federal Constitution1,
after consulting the report of the National Council’s Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy of 25 April 20222
and the Federal Council’s statement of 3 June 20223,
decrees:
Art. 1 Aim
In accordance with the Climate Agreement of 12 December 20154, the purpose of this Act is to set the following goals:
cut greenhouse gas emissions and use negative emissions technologies;
adapt to and protect against the impact of climate change;
make financial flows consistent with low-emission and climate-resilient development.
Art. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
negative emission technologies means biological and technical processes to remove carbon from the atmosphere and permanently sequester it in forests, soils, wood products or other carbon reservoirs;
direct emissions means greenhouse gas emissions from operations, in particular from the combustion of energy sources and processes;
indirect emissions means greenhouse gas emissions from the provision of purchased energy;
net-zero emissions means maximising the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting the impact of the remaining emissions through the use of negative emission technologies.
Art. 3 Goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and of using of negative emission technologies
The Confederation shall ensure that the impact of man-made greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland is zero by 2050 (net-zero target) by:
reducing greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible; and
offsetting the effect of the remaining greenhouse gas emissions by the use of negative emission technologies in Switzerland and abroad.
After 2050, the amount of carbon removed and stored by means of negative emission technologies must exceed the remaining greenhouse gas emissions.
The Confederation shall ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced compared with 1990 levels in accordance with the interim targets set:
on average for the years 2031–40: by at least 64 per cent;
by the year 2040: by at least 75 per cent;
on average for the years 2041–50: by at least 89 per cent.
The reduction targets must be technically feasible and economically viable. They must be achieved as far as possible by cutting emissions in Switzerland.
Within the scope of their responsibilities, the Confederation and the cantons shall ensure that the amount of carbon storage necessary to achieve the net-zero target is available in Switzerland and abroad by 2050 at the latest. The Federal Council may set benchmark values for the use of negative emission technologies.
In order to achieve the targets set out in paragraphs 1 and 2, the emissions from fuels refuelled in Switzerland for international flights and shipping shall also be taken into account.
Art. 4 Benchmark values for individual sectors
To achieve the reduction targets set out in Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 3, greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland in the following sectors must be reduced compared with 1990 levels at least as follows:
in the buildings sector:
to 2040 by 82 per cent,
to 2050 by 100 per cent;
in the transport sector:
to 2040 by 57 per cent,
to 2050 by 100 per cent;
in the industrial sector:
to 2040 by 50 per cent,
to 2050 by 90 per cent.
After consulting the parties concerned, the Federal Council may, in accordance with paragraph 1, set benchmark values for other sectors, for greenhouse gases and for emissions from fossil fuels. It shall take into account the latest scientific findings, the availability of new technologies and developments in the European Union.
Art. 5 Roadmaps for companies and sectors
All companies must achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. At a minimum, direct and indirect emissions must be taken into account.
Companies and sectors may draw up roadmaps to achieve the objective set out in paragraph 1.
The Confederation shall provide companies or sectors that develop such roadmaps by 2029 with basic principles, standards and expert advice. It can take internationally recognised standards into account.
Art. 6 Promotion of innovative technologies and processes
The Confederation shall provide financial assistance to companies until 2030 for the use of innovative technologies and processes that serve to implement the roadmaps in accordance with Article 5 paragraph 2 or individual measures thereof.
The financial assistance is provided via existing funding instruments.
The Federal Council shall regulate in particular:
the requirements for the individual measures;
deadlines for implementing the timetables or individual measures.
No contributions are paid for measures that already receive funding elsewhere or are integrated into an instrument for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Federal Assembly authorises a six-year commitment appropriation by simple federal decree.
Art. 7 Protection against risk
With the funds in accordance with Article 6 paragraph 5, the Confederation shall also protect against the risks of investments in public infrastructure projects that are necessary to achieve the net-zero target. The Federal Council shall regulate the details.
Art. 8 Adaptation to and protection against climate change
Within the scope of their responsibilities, the Confederation and the cantons shall ensure that the necessary measures are taken in Switzerland to adapt to and protect against the adverse effects of climate change.
The primary intention is to prevent an increase in climate-related damage to people and property, particularly as a result of:
the increase in average temperature and the change in precipitation;
intense, frequent and long-lasting extreme climatic events;
changes in habitats and species composition.
Art. 9 Goal of climate-friendly alignment of financial flows
The Confederation shall ensure that the Swiss financial centre makes an effective contribution to low-emission development that is resilient to climate change. In particular, measures are to be taken to reduce the climate impact of national and international financial flows.
The Federal Council may conclude agreements with the financial sectors on the climate-friendly orientation of financial flows.
Art. 10 Responsibilities of the Confederation and cantons
The Confederation and the cantons act as role models with regard to achieving the goal of net-zero emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change.
The central Federal Administration must have at least net-zero emissions by 2040. In addition to direct and indirect emissions, emissions caused upstream and downstream by third parties are also taken into account.
The Federal Council shall determine the measures required to achieve this goal. It may provide for exceptions in connection with the security of the country and the protection of the public. It regularly informs the Federal Assembly about the extent to which the goal has been achieved.
The cantons aim to achieve at least net-zero emissions from 2040 for their central administrations and federal-affiliated companies. The federal government provides them with the necessary foundations to fulfil their role model function.
Art. 11 Implementation of the goals
The Federal Council shall submit proposals for the implementation of the goals of this Act to the Federal Assembly in good time after prior consultation with the parties concerned and taking into account the latest scientific findings:
for the period 2025–30;
for the period 2031–40;
for the period 2041–50.
It submits the proposals under paragraph 1 to the Federal Assembly in principle in the CO2 Act of 23 December 20115.
The Federal Council’s proposals aim to strengthen the national economy and social compatibility.
The Confederation and the cantons undertake to limit the risks and impacts of climate change in accordance with the goals of this Act within the scope of their responsibilities in Switzerland and internationally.
Art. 12 Relationship to other statutory provisions
Provisions of other federal and cantonal enactments, in particular relating to CO2, environment, energy, spatial planning, finance, agriculture, forestry and timber management, road and air transport and mineral oil taxation, shall be drawn up and applied in such a way that they contribute to achieving the goals of this Act.
In the case of specific initial conditions for mountain and peripheral areas, additional support shall be provided.
Art. 13 Implementation
The Federal Council shall implement this Act and issue the implementing provisions.
It may call on the cantons or private organisations for certain tasks.
Art. 14 Amendment of another enactment
The amendment of another enactment shall be regulated in the Annex.
Art. 15 Referendum and commencement
This Act is subject to an optional referendum.
It must be published in the Federal Gazette as soon as the popular initiative of 27 November 20196 «For a healthy climate (Glacier Initiative)» has been withdrawn or rejected7.
The Federal Council shall determine the commencement date.
Commencement date: 1 January 20258
Amendment of another enactment
(Art. 14)
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