Getting around
According to the Federal Office for the Environment, road transport in Switzerland is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions It represents 30% of total emissions on Swiss soil (excluding “grey” emissions from imports).
We clearly need more eco-friendly forms of transport, as this will have a significant impact on the environment. This means reflecting on our own options, and choosing to travel differently in everyday life, for leisure, work and holidays.
For a specific journey, you can compare the ecological footprint of different modes of transport using a site such as myclimate.org or ecopassenger.org or a tool such as mobility-impact (FR/DE only)
Walk or cycle
As they only use human energy, walking and cycling are undeniably the greenest modes of transport. They are perfectly suited for distances of under 5 km. Although the manufacture of e-bikes has an ecological impact, they also remain a relatively green mode of transportation, allowing people to travel over longer distances or with a heavier load.
As they only use human energy, walking and cycling are undeniably the greenest modes of transport. They are perfectly suited for distances of under 5 km. Although the manufacture of e-bikes has an ecological impact, they also remain a relatively green mode of transportation, allowing people to travel over longer distances or with a heavier load.
Instead of buying your own bike, you might consider using a bike rental service (List of options in Switzerland: DE/FR/IT).
Use public transport
The Swiss public transport network is efficient at national, regional and local levels, making it an excellent option for anyone not wanting to use a private vehicle.
According to the SBB website, 90% of the electricity used to operate trains is from hydroelectric sources. As a result, a train journey in Switzerland emits 27 times less CO2 than a car journey over a similar distance.
Avoid flying
Even if on some routes air travel is no more polluting than a private car, it still has a much greater impact than other forms of public transport (15 times greater than train travel, for example).
We will cover this in more depth in a few days, when we discuss tourism.
When it has to be a car...
When driving seems to be the most appropriate solution, in an ideal world you would opt for some form of car-sharing. There are various different ways of doing this, and links to many resources can be found on the EnergieSchweiz website (suisseenergie.ch: DE/FR/IT).
I already own a car, should I swap it for a model with lower emissions?
You might think so, but no. Actually, buying a new vehicle to replace one that is still in working order is not truly eco-friendly, no matter how green the new vehicle might be.
Lucien Willemin, speaker and author of the book “En voiture Simone ! Comprendre l'énergie grise” (Get in the car, Simone: understanding “grey” energy), explains that the ecological impact of a vehicle is much greater during its manufacture than during its use. In addition, the cars that are left behind will continue to pollute elsewhere, and sometimes even more in other countries where they are not subject to the same checks.
Rather than replacing it, you can take good care of your car, have it repaired, use it less often, share it with others who need it, etc.
I still need to change cars, what should I choose?
It's always tricky to choose with so many options. The topten.ch website (DE/FR/IT) offers a comparison of the best vehicles in its Mobility tab.
Electric cars have a greater impact during manufacture than vehicles with internal combustion engines. On the other hand, their impact is lower when in use (no CO2 emissions) as long as the electricity used is from renewable sources.
More information can be found on the TCS website (DE/FR/IT) and in EnergieSchweiz's downloadable fact sheet: The environmental burdens of passenger cars – today and tomorrow.
Good to know
Regardless of the the type of engine, SUVs should be avoided completely.
There are already more than 200 million of them in circulation worldwide and according to Fatih Birol, Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), they represent the 2nd largest source of CO2 increase in the world between 2010 and 2018, second only to the energy sector.
They consume about 25% more energy than an average car and are also more difficult to electrify because they are heavier and less aerodynamic.
Regardless of the the type of engine, SUVs should be avoided completely.
There are already more than 200 million of them in circulation worldwide and according to Fatih Birol, Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), they represent the 2nd largest source of CO2 increase in the world between 2010 and 2018, second only to the energy sector.
They consume about 25% more energy than an average car and are also more difficult to electrify because they are heavier and less aerodynamic.
To go further:
- Weigh up travel time, cost, comfort, time constraints, fatigue, and environmental impact, to find your personal sweet spot when choosing a mode of transportation.
- Ask your company to commit to a mobility project to reduce the use of personal vehicles, using a mobility management tool such as the online calculator mobitool.ch (DE/FR).
- Links to more information can be found through EnergieSchweiz’s website (DE/FR)