CO2-tax exempt companies exceed CO2-targets also in 2010
Bern, 15.07.2011 - Swiss companies exempted from paying the CO2 tax have once again surrendered carbon emission credits to the federal authorities. As in previous years, the emission targets agreed with the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN were also exceeded in 2010.
About 950 businesses in Switzerland have made use of their right set out in the CO2 Act and have made a commitment to the federal authorities to reduce their carbon emissions. In return, these businesses are exempt from paying the CO2 tax on fossil fuels. About 430 of these 950 companies take part in the emissions trading scheme. The federal authorities allocate these companies carbon emission allowances each year. The number they receive is determined according to each company's emission target, as agreed with the federal authorities. Once a year they settle up with the FOEN and their effective CO2 emissions are established. The companies then surrender the corresponding number of emission credits. Emission allowances which remain unused can be traded in the Swiss Emissions Trading Registry.
2010 targets exceeded
The companies surrender their emission allowances themselves by transferring them from their own account in the National Emissions Trading Registry to the FOEN, which then checks that the companies are on course to meet their targets (see table below). Surrenderings for last year were settled in June 2011.
An assessment of 2010 shows that the companies emitted about 2.85 million tonnes of CO2, considerably less than the permitted total amount of 3.42 million tonnes. In exceeding their reduction target, they continue the trend set in 2008 and 2009, when the exempted companies also outperformed their target by a good 0.4 to 0.5 tonnes of CO2.
This outperformance demonstrates that the companies take their responsibilities towards the federal authorities seriously and in some cases have invested early in carbon reduction measures. The Emissions Trading Scheme allows companies to sell their surplus emission allowances on the open market or carry them over to compensate for future emissions. Many companies have agreed to sell their surplus emission allowances to the Climate Cent Foundation. The foundation can then count these emission allowances as domestic reduction.
Address for enquiries
Susanne Riedener, CO2 Act Implementation Section, FOEN, Tel.: 031 322 82 62
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
