In a newly issued proposal, the Swiss government presented the intention of purchasing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in addition to ambitious emissions reductions as part of its administration’s strategy for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Under the proposal, carbon removals generated in Switzerland and abroad would be purchased in the form of certificates, also called attestations, issued under the Swiss CO2 Act.
The proposal points out that the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) would be the official purchaser on behalf of the administration.
The intended carbon removal purchases would complement strict emissions reduction measures, through which the government plans to reach net zero alongside the private sector.
As shared in the proposal, the CDRs would account for the direct and indirect emissions that remain after the reductions, which are to be addressed via technologies that remove atmospheric CO2 and store it safely and permanently.
The proposal also highlights that the carbon removal goals of the administration are to be achieved by 2040 or 2050 at the latest.
With this move, the government would confirm its serious commitment towards carbon removals that would count towards the administration’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions as outlined in the Swiss Climate and Innovation Act (Art. 10, Klima- und Innovationsgesetz).
On a national level, Switzerland has outlined clear requirements for a compulsory carbon offsetting program for distributors of fossil fuels (petrol, diesel, natural gas, and kerosene), who must reduce part of their greenhouse gas emissions by financing offsetting projects in Switzerland and abroad.
Relevant: New Factsheet Outlines Switzerland’s Carbon Management Framework
If the carbon removals are purchased in Switzerland, they get approved by the Compensation Office—an entity jointly managed by the FOEN and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), where the issued CDR approvals are referred to as attestations.
If the carbon removals are purchased from another country, the buyers receive Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMO), which can also be used for voluntary offsetting.
The recently issued proposal with which the government wants to take decisive administrative CDR action will be in a period of consultation until February 12, 2026.
Read more: Switzerland Launches Call For Carbon Capture And Removal Proposals
