Time is running out

KliK Foundation | The revised Swiss CO2 Act came into force at the beginning of the year. The Federal Council has yet to make a decision on the associated CO2 Ordinance with its implementing provisions. However, we assume that 25 per cent of CO2 emissions from the use of fossil motor fuels will have to be offset this year and that this percentage will rise to 50 per cent by 2030. The KliK Foundation must therefore achieve greenhouse gas reductions of an estimated 30 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent over a period of six years through climate protection projects financed by it and certified by the federal government.

Approximately one third of this amount must be reduced within Switzerland. The vast majority of the projects that will achieve this reduction are already known and in operation. However, only a quarter of the remaining 20 million tonnes of CO2 reductions to be achieved outside Switzerland can be considered reasonably certain. These are based on 12 programmes in six countries, only two of which have been approved by Switzerland. This is the situation after more than five years of intensive efforts.

36 further programmes are at an advanced stage of development. The procurement target is therefore well within reach, but time is running out until 2030. If the KliK Foundation is to be able to provide sufficient financial incentives for the implementation of the programmes, it must be able to acquire their certificates by 2035. To this end, the Federal Council must set the carbon offset rate in the upcoming Swiss CO₂ Ordinance until 2035. This would send a signal for continuity and investment security.

Focus on Switzerland

Changes to the 2025 support programmes

In view of the current time limit until 2030, there are a number of changes to our support programmes in the current year. An overview is provided below:

Electric construction vehicles and electric agricultural loaders

Vehicles that go into operation on or after 1 January 2025 will now receive the subsidy annually rather than as an advance payment after commissioning. The subsidy amount per vehicle remains the same. We are also involved in research into electric construction machinery, together with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the cities of Zurich, Basel and Lucerne.

Hydrogen mobility

The KliK Foundation has supported the switch to climate-friendly technologies through its own supported programmes for hydrogen buses and heavy-duty vehicles with fuel cell drives. The registration phase ended on 31 December 2024. The projects supported to date will continue until 2030 and contribute to the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport.

Electric heavy utility vehicles

The aim of the programme, which is run by the Energy Agency of the Economy (EnAW), is to reduce CO₂ emissions through the purchase and operation of electric heavy utility vehicles (E-SNF). From 2025, only certain vehicles will be eligible for inclusion in the programme. As the Swiss CO₂ Ordinance will impose emission limits on SNF from 2025, emission reductions for E-SNF can no longer be credited.

Warm water saving programme

The programme run by the myclimate foundation, which was aimed at private households as well as public administrations, energy supply companies, housing associations and companies, has been successfully implemented. Until 31 December 2024, interested parties had the opportunity to purchase energy-saving shower heads and flow restrictors at a reduced price. This phase is now complete. No new projects will be accepted.

Heating networks

The supported programme for heating networks using climate-friendly energy sources such as biomass or waste heat can only accept new projects until the end of 2025. Login for a new or expanded heating network with renewable energy sources is therefore possible until 31 December 2025 at the latest. In order to receive funding, a project must be registered with the programme before the first significant contract is awarded (e.g. order for a boiler or contract for work and services).

Climate-friendly cooling

Login or submission of applications for the three modules ‘Early replacement of HFC plants’, ‘Climate-friendly small-scale plants’ and ‘Refrigerant conversion in HFC plants’ is only possible until 30 June 2025. The implementation of a climate-friendly cooling project must take place in 2025. After that, all modules of the supported programme will be terminated.

Portrait: Agricultural biogas plant at Courtemelon

Photo: Swiss Gas Industry Association

It is an impressive pioneering project: the EcoBioVal agricultural biogas plant in Courtemelon in the canton of Jura. Since mid-January 2024, it has been feeding biomethane into the local gas grid – the first agricultural biogas plant in western Switzerland to feed renewable gas into the grid. The KliK Foundation is financially supporting the project in the Jura and was given a tour of the plant.

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Climate-friendly cooling for vegetables

The early replacement of refrigeration plants with climate-damaging refrigerants is worthwhile – even for agricultural production companies! An inspiring example of this is Gamper Gemüsekulturen AG from Stettfurt, which is participating in the Climate-friendly cooling supported programme of the KliK Foundation. Find out more about this showcase project and how the company is actively contributing to climate protection.

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Events in Switzerland
6 March 2025 | 13.15 to 16.30h

PUSCH exchange of experiences

‘Thermal networks and scarce funds’, input presentations and moderated workshop, Hotel Krone Unterstrass, Zurich
More information and programme