Implementation of CO₂ offsetting in Switzerland and abroad
CO2 offsetting is an important way of achieving Switzerland's climate targets. Entities and persons involved in implementing offsetting projects and programmes in Switzerland and abroad can find key information here.
Producers and importers of fossil fuels (petrol, diesel, natural gas and kerosene) are legally required to offset a percentage of the CO2 emissions for which they are responsible. This offsetting obligation is met by acquiring attestations from offsetting projects in Switzerland and abroad. These take the form of CO2 compensation attestations issued by the FOEN confirming that a project meets all requirements and achieves a demonstrable reduction in CO2 emissions.
There is also a voluntary offsetting market, which is not regulated by law. The Confederation neither has the authority nor the rights to regulate the voluntary market.
This page is aimed at applicants, validators/ verifiers and partner countries. Here you can find key information on conducting offsetting projects in Switzerland and abroad.
Applicants
Below you will find an overview of the legal requirements and conditions for submitting applications to the Compensation Office for offsetting projects in Switzerland and abroad.
Validators and verifiers
Validators and verifiers approved by the FOEN independently assess offsetting projects as specified in the CO2 Act and the associated CO2 Ordinance.
Partner countries
In order to achieve part of its climate target, Switzerland can implement offsetting projects abroad. To this end, Switzerland has concluded bilateral agreements with a number of partner countries in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. The Compensation Office, which is run jointly by the Federal Office for the Environment and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, is responsible for implementing these agreements.