Climate and Innovation Act, pilot projects, financing rounds: There is a get-up-and-go attitude in Switzerland when it comes to carbon dioxide removal (CDR). But there is also still a lot to be done before approaches that remove CO2 from the atmosphere can live up to the hopes placed in them. Not least at the political and regulatory level: from the fertilizer ordinance to the development of a CO2 transport infrastructure to the creation of fair and economically viable incentive systems, there is still a lot to be done. The CDR Swiss Policy White Paper published in September 2023 highlights challenges and opportunities as well as possible policy pathways towards net zero CO2 emissions in Switzerland.
Watch the recording of the white paper release here:
For the first time, we also take a look beyond 2050 and ask what comes after net zero. We discuss the role CDR can play in reducing global temperatures in the long term and prevent climate collapse.
Read the full white paper now (PDF).
The white paper exists thanks to the initiative and commitment of the members of the “Policy” working group of the Swiss Carbon Removal Platform. The experts from academia, industry and civil society joined their diverse knowledges and perspectives to reassess and enhance short-, mid- and long-term CDR policies in Switzerland. The aim of the paper is to identify gaps and ethical questions, discuss a sustainable role of CDR in climate policy, and present options to incentivize the upscaling of CDR. We consider the evolving policy landscape, particularly the Swiss Climate and Innovation Act (KIG), and show options for a comprehensive and forward-looking CDR policy. On the short- and mid-term, a number of policy-related needs and actions are identified. To make things more tangible, we present challenges and policy mixes for three case studies, namely biochar, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air capture and storage (DACS).
In terms of short-term policy needs, we identified five key actions:
- Facilitate interconnected stakeholders
- Establish clear legal frameworks
- Promote CDR RDD&D
- De-risk first CDR movers and investment in CO2 infrastructure
- Engage in bilateral and multilateral agreements
Welcome to the future!
The white paper does not stop at 2050. Instead, we encourage to think ambitiously beyond “net zero”, and talk today about achieving net-negative greenhouse gas emissions tomorrow. To this end, we challenge existing policy paradigms and invite the readership to a speculative journey to 2065, highlighting milestones on the path to a future where more CO2 is removed from the atmosphere than emitted.
Read the full white paper now (PDF).
On 28th of September, the main authors, Nicoletta Brazzola from the Climate Policy group at ETH Zurich, Matthias Honegger from Perspectives Climate Research and Samuel Eberenz from Risk Dialogue and CDR Swiss presented the highlights and main take aways of the white paper in a public webinar, answering questions from the audience.
Blog
Member Assembly 2024
KontaktNorma De Min and Nicolas Solenthaler, Risk-Dialog FoundationReview and outlook: The fourth general assembly of the Swiss Carbon Removal PlatformOn November 26, 2024, our fourth CDR Swiss General Assembly took place - an inspiring meeting that provided space for reflection, input, exchange and future planning.Fig. 1: Lively discussions among members during speed dating. At the […]
CDR Swiss Webinar CDR market – buyers and investors
Contact usSamuel Eberenz and Nicole Blasko, Risk-Dialog foundationCDR Swiss Webinar: Buyers and Investors Shaping the Future of Carbon RemovalOn October 31, the CDR Swiss platform hosted this year’s second webinar on the CDR Market – A buyers and investors perspective. We were blessed to receive valuable inputs from Karen Strassel, Senior Science Associate at Carbon […]
CDR Swiss Webinar EU vs. US and DE
KontaktNicolas Solenthaler and Nicole Blasko, Risk-Dialog FoundationOn Tuesday, June 11, 2024, we concluded an insightful CDR Swiss webinar on a policy comparison between the EU vs. US, and an input on the German CDR landscape. We then discussed in break-out groups, amongst others, the implications for Switzerland. We were delighted to have Alexis Dunand from […]
KlV Consulation Response from CDR Swiss
Contact usNicolas Solenthaler and Samuel Eberenz, Risk-Dialog FoundationAs the largest CDR platform in Switzerland, consisting of 60+ member organizations from various sectors, the Swiss Carbon Removal Platform decided to respond to the consultation on the Climate Protection Ordinance (KlV). In a collaborative process with committed members from consulting, industry, research and civil society, positions and […]
CDR Swiss Policy White Paper
Contact usSamuel Eberenz, Nicolas Solenthaler and Kristina Koch, Risk DialogueClimate and Innovation Act, pilot projects, financing rounds: There is a get-up-and-go attitude in Switzerland when it comes to carbon dioxide removal (CDR). But there is also still a lot to be done before approaches that remove CO2 from the atmosphere can live up to the […]
2023 Clean Energy Transition Platform CETP – funding opportunity
Contact usLaura Angst and Kristina Koch, Risk-Dialogue FoundationWe would like to draw your attention to a promising funding opportunity in the field of CCUS/CCS.The 2023 Clean Energy Transition Platform CETP aims to facilitate the emergence of CO2 Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies via funding of transnational projects. More specifically, this call intends to attract […]
The Swiss Climate Act vote 2023 – policy at a crossroads
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CDR Swiss Webinar: US policy and maritime CDR
Contact usSamuel Eberenz & Kristina Koch, Risk-Dialogue Foundation The recording of the CDR Swiss Webinar with Frances Wang from ClimateWorks Foundation and Dr. Sifang Chen from Carbon180 on March 16, 2023 is now available online. Below, please find more information about the content of the webinar and the two guest speakers Frances Wang and Dr. […]
Removing CO2 from the air?- Information brochure
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Webinar: Ocean-based CDR with CDRmare
Contact usSamuel Eberenz and Kristina Koch, Risk-Dialogue FoundationArtwork: Rita ErvenThe recording of the CDR Swiss webinar with CDRmare from February 7, 2023 is now available online. Feel free to check it out if you want to learn more about ocean-based CDR and what CDRmare is up to:This webinars focus was set on marine carbon dioxide […]
Webinar: Spotlight on US policy and maritime CDR
Contact usSamuel Eberenz and Kristina Koch, Risk-Dialogue FoundationThe CDR Swiss Webinar on CDR in USA and Canada with focus on US policy and maritime CDR is taking place on Thursday, 16 March 2023, 5 to 6 pm (CET). We are looking forward to welcoming our guest speakers Frances Wang from ClimateWorks Foundation and Dr. Sifang […]
Happy Birthday, CDR Swiss!
Contact usYesterday, the Swiss Carbon Removal Platform celebrated their first birthday! During the member assembly on December 8, 2022, we could not only look back at an exciting year but also celebrate the growth of our member base to 50 organisations from administration, industry, research and civil society. 2022 was a year with a high […]
CO2 capture and storage – “2050 is coming soon”
Contact usKristina Koch and Samuel Eberenz, Risk-Dialogue FoundationOn 14 October 2022, the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) invited participants to the symposium “CO2 Capture and Storage – Necessity and Pathways to Implementation”. Various representatives from the sectors of administration, business, research and politics discussed potential opportunities, challenges and risks on the topic of CO2 capture and […]
Ethical challenges of carbon removal in Switzerland
Contact usCarmela Cavegn und Samuel Eberenz, Risk-Dialogue FoundationWhat are the ethical challenges to be considered in the development of carbon dioxide removal (CDR)? What can decision-makers do? During a half-day workshop on ethical issues surrounding CDR in Switzerland on the 9th of June 2022, the Swiss Carbon Removal Platform addressed these questions with around 20 […]
CDR in the ‘Glacier Initiative’ and the CO2 Act
Contact usSamuel Eberenz, Risk-Dialogue FoundationThe legal regulation of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods in Switzerland is currently actively underway and only a few aspects have already been conclusively regulated. In this article, we provide information on the current state of regulation in Switzerland and the upcoming developments in the coming years.First of all, a list […]
Webinar: international CDR funding, markets & policy
Samuel Eberenz, Risk-Dialogue FoundationThe recording of the first webinar of the Swiss Carbon Removal Platform from May 17, 2022 is available online! Watch the video here or on Youtube.The webinar focused on international developments in CDR funding, markets and policy and was moderated by Samuel Eberenz of the Risk Dialogue Foundation. We had the pleasure of […]
Swiss government publishes roadmap for CCS and CDR
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