Climate facts and figures

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Changing climate About 32 billion tons of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere worldwide in 2013. The main emitters are China, the United States, the European Union and India. Switzerland emitted around 40 million tons of carbon dioxide. Oceans and forests can only absorb around half of these emissions. Keystone

Changing climate CO2 levels are today about 40% higher than during the pre-industrial era. The average American accounts for 16 tons annually, compared with five tons for each Swiss and only half a ton for someone in Senegal. Keystone

Changing climate The first decade of this century has been the hottest since 1850. Since the pre-industrial era, the planet's average temperature has increased by around 0.85°C. Keystone

Changing climate The layer of permafrost that binds mountain surfaces is expected to thaw as a consequence of hotter summers. A reduction in the permafrost compounds the danger of landslides in the Alps. Keystone

Changing climate At the end of 2010, the Swiss Alps had 1,420 glaciers covering a total area of 944 km2. In the 1850s, at the end of the Little Ice Age, the area was 1,735 km2; by 1973 it was 1,307. That’s a decline of 28% in 37 years. Reuters

Changing climate There are about 600 snow-reliable, medium to large ski areas across the Alps. If temperatures rise by 1°C, the survival of 100 will be threatened. If temperatures rise by 2°C, only 400 will be snow-reliable. With a 4°C increase, that number drops to 200. Keystone

Energy consumption Since 2001, the consumption of petroleum products in Switzerland has constantly gone down (by around 0.6% a year). Keystone

Energy consumption Annual electricity consumption in Switzerland is around 60,000 gigawatts, double that of the 1960s. Keystone

Energy consumption Wind energy, solar energy and other sources of renewable energy (apart from hydroelectricity) make up 3% of the electricity produced in Switzerland. The main sources are hydroelectric (56%) and nuclear (38%). Reuters

Goals and measures The federal law on reducing CO2 emissions sees a drop by 2020 of 20% compared with 1990 levels. Keystone

Goals and measures Switzerland intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (compared with 1990 levels). Keystone

Goals and measures Switzerland has adopted various measures to reduce CO2, including a fuel tax, an emissions trading exchange, incentives for redeveloping buildings to save energy and for promoting renewable energy, regulations on car emissions. Keystone

Goals and measures Switzerland's 2050 energy strategy involves the gradual withdrawal from nuclear energy and the promotion of renewable sources. The government aims to halve energy consumption and reduce electricity consumption by 18%. Keystone

Goals and measures To finance incentives for renewable energy, taxpayers in Switzerland pay a surcharge on each kilowatt hour of electricity consumed. This rose from 0.45 cents in 2012 to 1.3 cents in 2016. Keystone

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Everything you always wanted to know about the climate in Switzerland.

Sources: Federal Office of Energy, Federal Office for the Environment, SwissMeteo, Swiss research institutes, IPCC, Global Carbon Atlas.

All images: Keystone, Reuters.