The Sustainable Development Strategy is a national Strategy with a multi-sectoral approach and its timeframe is 3 years from 2016 to 2019. The main objective of the strategy is defining the action plans to be taken to achieve sustainable development goals of the UN. Biodiversity, the landscape, soil, air, water and forests, as well as wildlife populations will be safeguarded. The environmental impact caused by Switzerland at home and abroad will be reduced to a level that nature can withstand. The ecological infrastructure of reserves and habitat networks will be upgraded and expanded to secure the land needed to preserve biodiversity in the long term. Forests will be managed and used efficiently in a way that they will preserve their natural quality. All forest functions will be fulfilled equally, and their basic spatial structure will be preserved without any shrinkage in the land area covered. Genetic impoverishment will be halted, and further efforts will be made to prevent the spread of invasive foreign species with the potential to harm the Swiss environment. The Strategy sets forth that during the decision making and implementation of this strategy cooperation will be ensured between all stakeholders such as the government, partners from the private sector, civil society and science. Sustainable development will be integrated into all of the Confederation’s sectoral policies. Sustainable consumption and production will be ensured. Consumer and capital goods are produced in a resource-efficient, socially and environmentally-friendly way, with no impact on health. The environmental impact of consumption will be decreased. Companies will achieve maximum resource-efficiency by optimizing the design of their production processes and products. The industry’s contribution to sustainable development will be ensured. Awareness raising and public information programs will be put in action to enable the consumer to make their purchase decisions on the basis of quality and safety and in the knowledge of environmental and social impacts. Resilient infrastructure will be build. Sustainable industrialization will be promoted. Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy will be ensured. The nationwide system for generating, storing and distributing renewable energy in the interests of reliable supplies will be maintained and developed. Actions taken to reduce greenhouse gasses will go on. Average per-capita energy and electricity consumption will be reduced. Nationwide analysis and monitoring will be done regarding the opportunities and risks of climate change, and the coordination of adaptation work in cooperation between different levels of government will be ensured. Soil function will be preserved for the long term. Soil degradation will be avoided and, where possible, soils and their function will be restored. Decent working conditions, social and health standards will be maintained and ensured for all segments of the society in with a gender balance approach. Inclusive and equitable quality education will be ensured and lifelong learning opportunities will be promoted for all. The social security system will be empowered regarding especially people living below the poverty line and the old age population. Vulnerable individuals will receive the protection they need. Relationships of equality between the genders, generations, cultures, religions, regions and linguistic and social communities will be assured. Cities and other human settlements will be made in an inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable way. Suitable measures will be taken in each place to protect settlements and infrastructures from natural hazards. Urgent action will be taken nationally and internationally to combat climate change and its impacts.
Switzerland · 2016-01-27