Climate Strategy 2050 submitted for public consultation in Liechtenstein

The government launched the public consultation on Climate Strategy 2050 and adopted the consultation report on raising the climate target for 2030.

The consequences of climate change are also being felt in Liechtenstein, and the average temperature has increased by 2 degrees since the beginning of industrialization. As a result, landslides, rockfalls and forest fires are likely to increase in this country in the coming decades.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, increasing global warming is leading to more frequent extreme weather phenomena, such as heavy rainfall, storms and heat, with devastating consequences worldwide. 

Liechtenstein wants to be totally climate neutral by 2050

In 2017, Liechtenstein ratified the Paris Climate Agreement and, like many other countries, committed to the goal of limiting global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees compared to pre-industrial times. The target is a maximum increase of 1.5 degrees. At the same time, with the adoption of Climate Vision 2050, the Parliament decided that Liechtenstein will become climate neutral by 2050, meaning it will reduce its CO2 emissions to zero by that date.

Ambitious CO2 reduction target by 2030

With the current climate strategy, the government wants to increase the CO2 emission reduction target in 2030 from 40 to 50 percent compared to the 1990 base year. In doing so, it follows the call of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to improve national environmental targets. The government wants to reduce most emissions nationwide, and to achieve this goal, it proposes a catalog of measures that cover all sectors and complement those already adopted in the Energy Strategy 2030. On the path to climate neutrality, not only the energy industry, which is responsible for about 80 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions, but also agriculture and the financial sector must make their contribution.

Excellent bilateral relations between Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Ultimately, with the Climate Strategy 2050, the government also wants to raise awareness of climate change. “Every single individual can make a difference in terms of climate protection with his or her own behavior,” the press release states.

The climate strategy will be presented at a public event on June 13. According to the government, representatives from research, business and politics will discuss the measures needed to bring greenhouse gas emissions to zero as soon as possible. The 2050 Climate Strategy, which includes the new 2030 climate target, will be submitted by the government to the Landtag for approval after the completion of the consultation. The new climate target requires an amendment to the Emissions Trading Act. Consultation on the bill will take place in parallel with the public consultation on the climate strategy.

Source: Ministerium für Inneres, Wirtschaft und Umwelt – Fürstentum Liechtenstein