Zurich, 30 June 2011 - The Climate Cent Foundation looks back on a successful business year 2010. It should exceed its commitment vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation to reduce CO2 emissions, and proposes to increase its contribution to the achievement of Switzerland’s Kyoto target by 4 million tonnes of CO2, to a total 16 million tonnes of CO2.
By 31 December 2010, the Climate Cent Foundation had contracted 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 in emission reductions stemming from domestic projects, as well as 11.8 million tonnes of CO2 in reductions stemming from projects abroad. It should thus exceed its commitment vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation. This commitment stipulates emission reductions of 12 million tonnes of CO2 over the period 2008 to 2012, of which at least 2 million tonnes of CO2 within Switzerland. The Foundation dedicates a total 720 million Swiss Francs to purchasing these reductions, of which 470 million Swiss Francs in Switzerland.
Within the framework of the Buildings Programme, a further 1'053 projects, as well as contributions of 31 million Swiss Francs, were approved in 2010. Overall, between 2008 and 2012, the Foundation expects emission reductions of 237'000 tonnes of CO2 stemming from around 8'600 projects, in return for contributions of 186 million Swiss Francs.
In the Project Funding Programme, 143 projects had been contracted by the end of 2010, which should reduce emissions by 0.97 million tonnes of CO2 between 2008 and 2012 in return for 108 million Swiss Francs.
In the Target Agreements Programme, contracts had been concluded with 325 companies, expected to yield emission reductions of 1.52 million tonnes of CO2 over the period 2008 to 2012 in return for compensations of 149 million Swiss Francs.
Furthermore, by the end of 2010 the Foundation had closed contracts over the delivery of 11.8 million Kyoto certificates, at a total cost of 251 million Swiss Francs. Each Kyoto certificate confirms the reduction of one tonne of CO2 in a UN approved project.
By its own account, the Swiss Confederation will not meet its reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. In February of this year, the Climate Cent Foundation thus offered to once more increase its reduction commitment, as it had done in 2009. The required additional funds are available if the climate cent duty of 1.5 cent per litre of fuel is levied until 31 December 2012. On 10 June, the Swiss Federal Council decided to enter negotiations with the Foundation regarding an extension of its reduction commitment by 4 million tonnes of CO2, to a total 16 million tonnes of CO2. The Foundation will thus cover 75% of Switzerland’s CO2 reduction requirements of 21 million tonnes over the years 2008 to 2012.
The Climate Cent Foundation’s annual report for the financial year 2010 is unfortunately only available in German and in French
Zurich, 29 June 2010 - In 2009, the Climate Cent Foundation increased its commitment vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation to reduce CO2 emissions, doubling it within Switzerland and extending it by a third overall. It is expected to exceed even this broadened commitment. All its programmes for the purchase of CO2 reductions were thus phased out by the end of 2009.
The Climate Cent Foundation’s broadened commitment consists in the demonstrable reduction of 12 million tonnes of CO2 over the period 2008 to 2012, of which at least 2 million tonnes of CO2 must be reduced within Switzerland. Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, over this period Switzerland must reduce its emissions by a good 21 million tonnes of CO2 compared to the fivefold of their 1990 level. With a share of around 60%, the Climate Cent Foundation provides the major contribution to this goal.
By 31 December 2009, the Climate Cent Foundation had contracted 2.83 million tonnes of CO2 reductions within Switzerland over the period 2008 to 2012, dedicating 485 million Swiss Francs to their purchase. By the same date, contracts had been signed for the purchase of 11.9 million Kyoto certificates (each certificate being equivalent to one reduced tonne of CO2) at a total cost of 253 million Swiss Francs.
The Climate Cent Foundation continuously assesses the risk of under-delivery of CO2 reductions. Within Switzerland, it is not rare for projects to be abandoned; abroad, cumbersome and sluggish processes of certification often cause delays. Taking into account existing risks, expectations regarding the delivery of Kyoto certificates should be revised from 11.9 to only 11.5 million, and those regarding CO2 reductions within Switzerland from 2.83 to only 2.54 million tonnes. The Foundation should thus still exceed even its broadened commitment.
The Buildings Programme outperformed expectations owing to the "Stimulus Campaign" launched in 2009. Within the context of this campaign, nine cantons supplemented the Climate Cent Foundation’s contributions with their own and the Swiss Confederation’s funds, in some cases going as far as doubling them. Over its duration of three and a half years, the Buildings Programme was able to pledge 195 instead of planned 165 million Swiss Francs. Of 8'900 approved projects for the renovation of building envelopes, 5’000 have already been finalised, yielding overall CO2 reductions over the period 2008 to 2012 of 0.28 million tonnes.
In 2009, 30 new projects were approved within the context of the Project Funding Programmes. For the most part, these projects are concerned with the production of heat from wood. Overall, 152 projects active at the end of 2009 are expected to yield CO2 reductions over the period 2008 to 2012 of 1.02 million tonnes. In 2009, CO2 reductions stood at 0.11 instead of expected 0.14 million tonnes. This was due to delays in the commissioning of projects.
In 2009, within the framework of the Target Agreements Programme, the Foundation purchased at auction 0.38 million tonnes of CO2 reductions over the period 2008 to 2012, at a price of 100 Swiss Francs per tonne of CO2. Overall, the Climate Cent Foundation has thus acquired CO2 reductions of 1.31 million tonnes from 243 companies that have concluded a target agreement with the Swiss Confederation in the sector of combustibles. The Foundation has concluded further contracts for 0.22 million tonnes of CO2 reductions with 88 companies holding a target agreement in the sector of motor fuels. In 2009, companies delivered CO2 reductions of 0.30 instead of expected 0.31 million tonnes.
Within the framework of the programme for the purchase of Kyoto certificates abroad, the Foundation availed itself of 2009’s favourable conditions and acquired 3.15 million certificates on the spot market for immediate delivery. Overall, over the past year, 3.48 million certificates stemming from 43 projects in 13 countries were transferred to the Foundation’s account at the National Emissions Trading Registry.
The Climate Cent Foundation’s annual report for the financial year 2009 is unfortunately only available in German and in French.
Zurich, 29 June 2009 - The Foundation looks back on a successful business year 2008; it will most likely meet its obligations towards the Swiss Confederation.
The commitment entered vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation of reducing 8 million tonnes of CO2 abroad and 1 million tonnes of CO2 within Switzerland will most likely be fulfilled, as shown by expected CO2 reductions contracted by 31 December 2008 for the period 2008 to 2012: 9.40 million tonnes from the purchase of Kyoto certificates (each certificate being equivalent to one reduced tonne of CO2), as well as 2.25 million tonnes of CO2 reductions from projects within Switzerland.
On 16 February 2009, the Foundation thus concluded an additional agreement with the Swiss Confederation regarding further 3 million tonnes of CO2 reductions, of which at least 1 million tonnes within Switzerland. Overall, the Foundation thus commits to contributing CO2 reductions of 12 million tonnes over the period 2008 to 2012.
In Switzerland, following a comprehensive revision in early 2008, the Buildings Programme has met expectations. Year-on-year, incoming applications and granted contributions have increased by 50%. On average, every week contributions amounting to about 1 million Swiss Francs were assigned by the programme. Of the 165 million Swiss Francs available overall, by the end of 2008 70 million Swiss Francs had been apportioned, yielding expected CO2 reductions of 0.14 million tonnes over the period 2008 to 2012.
By the end of 2008, the Project Funding Programmes had yielded 133 contracted projects. Expected CO2 emissions reductions from these projects amount to 0.92 million tonnes over the period 2008 to 2012. On average, projects receive a remuneration of 96 Swiss Francs per tonne of CO2 reductions. In 2008, the projects delivered only 44'000 tonnes of CO2 reductions instead of an expected 74'000 tonnes. This was due to delays in the commissioning of projects.
By the end of 2008, the Target Agreements Programme numbered contracts with 162 companies in the combustibles sector, covering emissions reductions of 1.13 million tonnes of CO2 over the period 2008 to 2012. In the motor fuels sector, contracts had been concluded with 96 companies, covering 0.22 million tonnes of CO2 reductions over the same period. In 2008, the companies delivered total CO2 reductions of 0.32 million tonnes.
As regards the acquisition of Kyoto certificates abroad, by the end of 2008 the Foundation had signed contracts covering an expected 9.40 million tonnes of CO2. In 2008, 0.94 million Kyoto certificates stemming from 13 projects were transferred to the Foundation’s account in the National Emissions Trading Registry, each certificate being equivalent to one tonne of CO2.
The Foundation’s work underlines the significance of the business community’s voluntary measures – one such being the climate cent – for an efficient climate policy: the 3’500 projects supported by the Foundation within Switzerland by the end of last year provide impressive proof, as does the CO2 reduction of 0.38 million tonnes triggered within the country, thanks to which Swiss emissions were lowered by around 1%.
The Climate Cent Foundation’s annual report for the financial year 2008 is unfortunately only available in German and in French.
Zurich, 27 June 2008 - The Climate Cent Foundation is pleased to submit its 2007 annual report. The highlight of the year was the approval of the Foundation’s business plan by the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) in September 2007, giving the Foundation the go-ahead for the continuation of its activities until the end of 2012.
The Foundation furthermore executed its work as planned: by the end of the year, it had contracted 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions within Switzerland over the period 2008 to 2012. In its agreement with the Swiss Confederation, it had committed to reductions of at least 1 million tonnes. In the years 2006 and 2007, 0.23 million tonnes of CO2 have already been demonstrably reduced – a voluntary achievement, which the Foundation will not be able to impute towards its reduction target.
Abroad, the Foundation concluded 8 additional purchase agreements for the delivery of 1.45 million certificates stemming from Kyoto projects. Each certificate is equivalent to one tonne of CO2 reductions. The certificates stem from projects aimed at using biomass and hydropower, as well as reducing methane. Overall, by the end of the year the Foundation had concluded purchase agreements for the delivery of 7.14 million certificates by 2012. The maximum amount it may impute towards its commitment vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation is 8 million certificates.
The Climate Cent Foundation is a voluntary measure of Swiss industry aimed at effective climate protection. In an agreement with the Swiss Confederation, it has committed to reducing 9 million tonnes of CO2 over the period 2008 to 2012, of which at least 1 million tonnes within Switzerland. The Climate Cent Foundation is funded by a charge levied on all petrol and diesel imports at a rate of 1.5 cent per litre.
The Climate Cent Foundation’s annual report for the financial year 2007 is unfortunately only available in German and in French.
Zurich, 29 June 2007 - Today, the Climate Cent Foundation submitted its final business plan to the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. According to this document, with reductions of 12.8 million tonnes of CO2, it will clearly meet the target it has been set. Within Switzerland, the Foundation is reducing 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 with its three programmes Buildings, Project Funding and Target Agreements. Abroad, the Climate Cent Foundation is acquiring 10.2 million Kyoto certificates generated by high-quality projects.
Operational since 1 October 2005, the Climate Cent Foundation has committed in an agreement with the Swiss Confederation to achieving 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions over the period 2008 to 2012. Since 1 October 2005, the Climate Cent Foundation has had at its disposal annual revenues of around 100 million Swiss Francs, generated by a charge levied on petrol and diesel oil imports at a rate of 1.5 cent per litre. Overall, until the end of 2012, expected revenues of 735 million Swiss Francs are thus available to the Foundation. Of these, 375 million Swiss Francs will be invested in national projects in the fields of buildings renovation, transport, industrial process heat, waste heat recovery and space heating. Abroad, 210 million Swiss Francs will go to the purchase of Kyoto certificates stemming from high-quality projects. There remain strategic reserves of 112 million Swiss Francs, whose assignment the Foundation Council will decide only after the business plan’s approval by the Swiss Federal Council.
The acquisition of emissions reductions resp. certificates triggers expenses amounting to 24 million Swiss Francs. The Secretariat’s activity requires an additional outlay of 14 million Swiss Francs. These funds not directly used for projects represent a share of 5.2 per cent of overall available funds.
375 million Swiss Francs for reduction projects in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Climate Cent Foundation operates three programmes aimed at the reduction of CO2: the Buildings Programme, the Project Funding Programmes and the Target Agreements Programme. Under the clearly defined preconditions set out by the Buildings Programme, the Foundation supports the energy renovation of existing buildings’ envelopes. To this end, the Foundation deploys 175 million Swiss Francs, expecting CO2 reductions of 0.5 million tonnes. The Project Funding Programmes (Auction Programme, Intermediaries Programme and Large-Scale Projects Programme) make available 95 million Swiss Francs for emissions reductions projects in the fields of motor fuels, space heating, industrial process heat or waste heat recovery. In view of an imputation towards its commitment vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation, project owners must transfer to the Climate Cent Foundation a defined quantity of CO2 emissions reductions in return for financial compensation. Over the period 2008 to 2012, this should yield a reduction of Swiss CO2 emissions of 0.95 million tonnes.
Within the Target Agreements Programme, the Energie-Agentur der Wirtschaft (EnAW) acts as exclusive intermediary for emissions reductions generated by companies with an approved target agreement with the Swiss Confederation in the field of motor fuels or combustibles: the Foundation plans to deploy 105 million Swiss Francs directly for additional emissions reductions with which companies outperform the emissions target they had agreed with the Swiss Confederation. Over the period 2008 to 2012, CO2 emissions can thus be reduced by an expected 1.16 million tonnes.
Purchase of 10.2 million high-quality Kyoto certificates
Abroad, the Climate Cent Foundation plans to deploy 210 million Swiss Francs for the acquisition of 10.2 million Kyoto certificates generated by climate protection projects and issued in compliance with the strict rules of the Kyoto Protocol. It thus acquires 25% more certificates than it can impute towards its commitment vis-à-vis the Swiss Confederation. This covers the risk of a possibly lesser delivery of certificates. The Foundation lays its emphasis on projects aimed at using renewable energy and reducing methane, as well as on high-quality small-scale projects. The Foundation acquires certificates by way of contracts with brokers for the procurement of projects, contracts with traders for the delivery of certificates, purchase agreements with project owners without any intermediation, as well as participation in a climate protection fund run by the Asian Development Bank ADB.
The Climate Cent Foundation expects reductions of 12.8 million tonnes of CO2
To date, within Switzerland the Climate Cent Foundation was able to contract or to approve projects generating 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions. Abroad, contracts have been concluded resp. arranged for the purchase of Kyoto certificates totalling 7.63 million tonnes of CO2. The Foundation has thus already secured the reduction target of 9 million tonnes of CO2 agreed with the Swiss Confederation.
Over the period 2008 to 2012, the Climate Cent Foundation is expecting total reductions of 12.8 million tonnes of CO2. This does not yet take into account additional reductions that can be achieved using available strategic reserves. The Foundation Council is convinced that the Foundation will meet, and most likely even exceed, its set target of 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions.
The Climate Cent Foundation’s first annual report for the financial year 2006 is unfortunately only available in German and in French.
