In its revision of the CO2 ordinance to mitigate global warming, the government had agreed to lower the limit on CO2 emissions to 95g/km from 2020. However, this year car importers can exclude 15% of the most polluting vehicles from their calculations, and 10% of them next year. The idea is to give struggling car dealers a break during what has been a difficult economic year.
The European Union is stricter in comparison. Its car importers can exclude 5% this year, and there will be no exemptions in 2021.
According to Swiss regulations introduced in 2012, newly registered passenger cars were not supposed to exceed 130g of CO2 per kilometre through the end of 2019. But last year, CO2 emissions from new cars were over 138g/km.
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Swiss CO2 emissions: Small country, big footprint
The much-lauded Swiss quality of life has a dark side – namely levels of consumerism and convenience that jack up the national carbon footprint.
This the fourth consecutive year that Swiss car importers have missed the CO2 reduction target. More than half of new vehicles registered in Switzerland are 4x4s. Critics say the sanctions, amounting to about CHF250 ($277) for each car exceeding the limit, are too low to be taken seriously by dealers or consumers.
Road transport – including buses, service and delivery vehicles – accounts for about 40% of CO2 emissions in Switzerland.
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New cars on Swiss roads failed to meet emissions targets
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CO2 emissions limits for new cars in Switzerland missed their target in 2019 for the fourth year in a row.
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