Environmental degradation, the climate crisis, hunger and poverty – if the global community wants to be able to live a good (or better) life in future, then it urgently needs to find new solutions to the major challenges we are currently facing. We also need to find an answer to the question: how will humans be able to develop sustainably in the future? Understanding that this question can only be answered if we all work together, in 2015, 93 UN Member States (including Switzerland) came together to agree on “Agenda 2030”.
What is “Agenda 2030”?
The programme aims to ensure the well-being of mankind, economic development and environmental protection throughout the world. In concrete terms, the agenda consists of 17 sustainability goals – the so-called Sustainable Development Goals. As the name suggests, the objective is to achieve these goals by 2030. The goals cover topics such as clean energy, sustainable cities and climate protection. The agenda is the same for all states with each country being able to set its own individual focus areas. On a national level, Switzerland is focussing particularly on three points: 1) sustainable consumption and production, 2) climate, energy and biodiversity and 3) equal opportunities and social cohesion.
How is Switzerland implementing the goals?
Agenda 2030 is central to Switzerland’s sustainability policy. In a study carried out by the University of Basel, close to one in two Heads of Cantonal Offices stated that the sustainability goals were relevant to their work. But how does this translate into concrete projects? As a practical aid, a toolbox known as the “Agenda 2030 Toolbox” has been set up. This website gives cantons and municipalities access to lots of information, tips and inspiration for their projects. For example, it showcases 120 projects (as of 11 May 2023) relating to spatial development and mobility.
Agenda 2030: how well is Switzerland progressing?
In a report published in 2022, Platform Agenda 2030 stated that Switzerland was lagging behind in completing the steps required for a sustainable world. The report explained that the Federal Council needs to demonstrate more leadership in order to carry out the necessary transformation. The Federal Council provides regular information on its efforts to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals within Switzerland. The website “SDGital2030.ch” shows the current status of these goals. Cantons and municipalities also measure their progress in matters of sustainable development (Cercle Indicateurs).
However, we need to increase the pace. Sustainable mobility is one way of doing so
Although a large number of projects are already in place, at the Agenda 2030 midway point, Switzerland is behind on expectations (cf. section on the current status). There is a real need to increase the pace in the fight against climate change to ensure the goals are fulfilled. An important lever in terms of energy and climate policy is mobility. This is no surprise since more than one third of energy consumption and CO2 emissions stem from mobility. Mobility plays a key role in numerous national efforts to contribute to or align with goals such as those set out in “Agenda 2030”. For example:
- The Green Deal: sustainable travel
With the European Green Deal, the 27 EU Member States are aiming to become climate neutral by 2050. The first step is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 by 55% compared to 1990 levels. Agenda 2030 and the Green Deal are closely linked and may help accelerate each other.
The canton of Graubünden is also playing its part and has launched its “Green Deal Graubünden Action Plan” . A crucial pillar in this plan is mobility and sustainable travel
- The Energiestadt label: mobility has an important role to play
The “Energiestadt®” label is awarded to towns and municipalities which actively engage with municipal energy and climate policies. In Switzerland, there are currently 464 towns and municipalities which have been awarded the label. For over 30 years, the association has united Swiss municipalities ranging from larger towns to small mountain villages. They share the belief that local engagement is crucial if we are to overcome the energy and climate crisis. And mobility has an important role to play in this.
Ecological sustainability at the Mobility Cooperative
- Emissions generated during operation (tank to wheel) have already been reduced to under 95g of CO2 per km.
- By 2030 at the latest, Mobility wants to operate an emission-free fleet (well to wheel). Currently, more than 300 Mobility vehicles are entirely powered by electricity.
- By 2040, Mobility wants to achieve a climate-neutral life cycle (LCA).
- One car-sharing vehicle is able to replace eleven private cars.
- Mobility customers save 31'000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
- Mobility works in cooperation with “myclimate – The Climate Protection Partnership” – Cause We Care
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