Die Schweiz auf dem Weg zu einer tiefgreifenden Dekarbonisierung

Die Schweiz kann ihre CO2-Emissionen aus dem Energieverbrauch bis zum Jahr 2050 um 4 Tonnen pro Einwohner reduzieren und damit die Vorgaben des international angestrebten Ziels einer globalen Klimaerwärmung von 2°C einhalten. Eine detaillierte Analyse mit ver-schiedenen Szenarien im Rahmen des Deep Decarbonization Pathways Projects konnte auf-zeigen, dass die damit verbundenen Kosten für die Wirtschaft verkraftbar sind

Pathways to deep decarbonisation An overview of Swiss climate policy and existing simulations of decarbonisation strategies

This report gives an overview of Swiss climate policy and existing simulations of decarbonisation strategies. Report on results from Task A and B in the DDPP related mandate from FOEN

Emissions scenarios without measures 1990-2030

The goal of this study is to estimate the net impact of all measures implemented in the context of the Swiss energy and climate policies on CO2 emissions from combustion processes between 1990 and 2030. The study provides a projection of CO2 emissions until 2030 under the assump-tion of continuation of existing measures and contrasts these emissions with a scenario exclud-ing all policies and measures introduced after 1990. The study does not estimate the evolution of CO2 emissions from non-combustion processes, other (non-CO2) greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of measures on these emissions. Nor does it simulate a scenario with additional measures that are currently discussed but not decided or that may become necessary in the future if it appears that the emission targets cannot be met with existing measures alone

Inventives for private sectory participation in the article 6.4 mechanism : discussion paper

Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement explicitly acknowledges the need to incentivize and facilitate the participation of private entities in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), private sector actors had already the opportunity to participate in a new and fast-growing market. However, they faced numerous challenging investment barriers. The study provides an overview on key factors and barriers determining private sector participation in Article 6 mechanisms. It distinguishes between the three topics demand side factors, rules and standards for market mechanisms, and supply side factors and provides for each of them options to mitigate or overcome barriers. In a short analysis, it further explores three of the identified options: - Improving the design and support of national systems and capacities is an important pre-requisite for the private sector to be able to generate and sell ITMOs - The up-scaling of mitigation activities e. g. through (sub-) sector level crediting, and policy crediting helps private sector actors to benefit from economies of scale - Exploring the potential of digitization of measuring, reporting and verification (MRV), e. g. the use of sensors, internet of things, artificial intelligence and blockchain to make the project cycle more efficient and reduce transaction costs. Overall, the report stresses the importance of host country readiness to provide the private sector with a robust and trusted environment that allows for the adoption of Article 6 mechanisms

Options for fostering a net-zero GHG emission world under the Paris article 6.4 mechanism : discussion paper

The new mechanism defined under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement is supposed to allow for international cooperation with regard to climate change mitigation and thereby enable an increase in overall mitigation. Nevertheless, the design of the mechanism under Article 6.4 should also make sure that it is not be in conflict with the long-term goal of net-zero GHG emissions but even better foster national pathways leading to this objective. Building this into the mechanism requires to shift the focus from short- and mid-term considerations to the long-term perspective in one way or another. This discussion paper explores three different approaches that may help to foster the long-term objective of net-zero GHG emissions in the operationalization of Article 6.4, namely positive and negative lists, additionality with regard to a baseline consistent with both, NDCs and long-term targets, as well as adaptation of existing instruments and criteria from climate finance. The detailed discussion of the ap-proaches shows that the approaches should not be seen as mutually exclusive but rather as comple-mentary to each other. From the analyses, two storylines emerge how to combine aspects of the differ-ent approaches in a reasonable way to foster the long-term objective of net-zero GHG emissions under Article 6.4

Visibility of carbon market approaches in greenhouse gas inventories

Under the Paris Agreement, Parties must track the implementation and achievement of their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). In many cases, NDC targets are expressed as a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level and their implementation and achievement is tracked through national GHG inventories. To achieve their targets, it is thus essential for countries that the effects of mitigation measures are visible in their inventories. Inventory visibility is understood as the degree to which a change in GHG emissions or removals resulting from mitigation actions is reflected in GHG inventories. Inventory visibility can be assessed by identifying which emission sources and gases are affected by a mitigation action, determining the minimum inventory methods required for reflecting the related emission reduction, and identifying the completeness of and methods used by the current GHG inventory. In addition, it is useful to identify potential differences with the quantification approaches used under carbon market mechanisms. Inventory visibility is found to be generally high for measures that reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, while in parts of the industrial processes sector and in the forestry sector there is a higher risk that emission reductions are not visible. An analysis of the portfolio of Clean Development Mechanism projects shows that for most projects this risk is low; only 8% of the carbon credit supply potential is assessed to have a medium risk and 5% is assessed to have a high risk. However, as future carbon market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement may need to tap more into project types with medium to higher risk of non-visibility, national GHG inventory systems may need to be strengthened to assure visibility of mitigation projects

Options for fostering a net-zero GHG emission world under the Paris Article 6.4 Mechanism: Discussion paper

The new mechanism defined under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement is supposed to allow for international cooperation with regard to climate change mitigation and thereby enable an increase in overall mitigation. Nevertheless, the design of the mechanism under Article 6.4 should also make sure that it is not be in conflict with the long-term goal of net-zero GHG emissions but even better foster national pathways leading to this objective. Building this into the mechanism requires to shift the focus from short- and mid-term considerations to the long-term perspective in one way or another. This discussion paper explores three different approaches that may help to foster the long-term objective of net-zero GHG emissions in the operationalization of Article 6.4, namely positive and negative lists, additionality with regard to a baseline consistent with both, NDCs and long-term targets, as well as adaptation of existing instruments and criteria from climate finance. The detailed discussion of the approaches shows that the approaches should not be seen as mutually exclusive but rather as complementary to each other. From the analyses, two storylines emerge how to combine aspects of the different approaches in a reasonable way to foster the long-term objective of net-zero GHG emissions under Article 6.4

Emissions trading systems with different levels of environmental ambition : implications for linking. Report for the Carbon market policy dialogue

This report was prepared to inform the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue (CMPD) between the European Commission, as the regulator of the EU Emissions Trading System, and the regulatory authorities for the emissions trading systems (ETSs) of California, Québec, China, New Zealand, and Switzerland. The report deals with the implications of linking emissions trading systems (ETSs) that differ from each other in the level of environmental ambition. The report provides a conceptual framework and summarizes the relevant scientific literature; it describes the current status of the six ETSs represented in the CMPD and, finally, it offers up a few ideas for discussion.The present report is a deliverable of the LIFE DICET project, which is co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme of the European Commission (LIFE18 GIC/IT/001129)

Emissions trading systems with different price control mechanisms : implications for linking - Report for the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue

This report was prepared to inform the Carbon Market Policy Dialogue (CMPD) between the European Commission, as the regulator of the EU Emissions Trading System, and the regulatory authorities for the emissions trading systems (ETSs) of California, Québec, China, New Zealand, and Switzerland. In this report, we propose a conceptual framework to characterise price control mechanisms (PCMs), i.e. the design features of emission trading systems (ETSs) meant to tackle price uncertainty. We present the PCM features of the six ETSs involved in the CMPD according to the conceptual framework and illustrate some insight from the scientific literature on linking ETSs with different PCMs. Finally, we discuss the main issues emerging from this report and provide out concluding remarks.The present report is a deliverable of the LIFE DICET project, which is co-financed by the EU LIFE Programme of the European Commission (LIFE18 GIC/IT/001129)