SWITZERLAND
SURROUNDING COUNTRIES
Located in Europe, Switzerland is a small country well known for its travel destinations, great foods, and its role in the sustainability world. Here you’ll find some interesting graphics to acquaint you with some of the basic facts of present day Switzerland, as well as information on how it’s maintained to be one of the most sustainable countries in the world.
GERMANY 80,682,351
LIECHTENSTEIN
37,922
AUSTRIA
8,751,820
FRANCE
SWITZERLAND
65,233,271
ITALY
60,656,000
GENERAL INFO GENERAL INFO
LIFE EXPECTANCY (AVG.)
POPULATION
83.2 YEARS
BASEL
164,448
ZÃœRICH 341,730
(2015)
LOW
WINTERTHUR 106,778
78.42 YEARS
8 MILLION
BERN
(1995)
MOUNTAINS
121,631
ETHNIC BREAKDOWN GENEVE
ITALIAN
GERMAN
ROMANISH
10%
65%
183,981
FRENCH
18%
1%
OTHER
6%
LAUSANNE 116,751
SWITZERLAND
VS. MASSACHUSETTS 15,447 sq miles
10,566 sq miles
HIGHEST MOUNTAINS
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
RELIGIONS PRACTICED
MONTE ROSA
OTHER
15,203 ft
13.5%
FRENCH
DOM
20.4%
14,911 ft
NO DENOMINATION
GERMAN
LYSKAMM
21.4%
63.7%
14,852 ft
PROTESTANT
ROMANISH
26.9%
0.5%
OTHER
12.0% ROMAN CATHOLIC ITALIAN
6.5%
ENGLISH
1%
38.2%
SUSTAINABILITY Aside from its tourism industry, Switzerland is well known for its sustainability. Numerous times numbers have shown that the people of Switzerland are extremely environmentally conscious.
MOST SUSTAINABLE COUNTRIES (2017)
% OF ELECTRICITY USED FROM FOSSIL FUELS SWITZERLAND
SWEDEN
FRANCE
16.1%
01
2.9%
03 02
NORWAY
FINLAND
ITALY
52.8%
GERMANY
42.6%
04
DENMARK
05
SWITZERLAND
AUSTRIA
22.2%
50%
RECYCLING (%)
IS CONVERTED TO ENERGY
96%
GLASS TIN CANS STEEL BATTERIES
91% 86% 70%
0%
OF WASTE IS DUMPED IN LANDFILLS
50%
IS RECYCLED
GREEN SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT
TIMELINE
Only around the mid–1900s did people begin to question how our daily activities would effect the environment and the world around us. Though there were some acts passed in Switzerland during the 19th and early 20th centuries regarding hunting and maintaining forests, they were no where near as highly regarded as the more present acts are. These laws are not only a crucial step to helping the environment, but they also keep Switzerland on top as one of the most sustainable countries.
THE WATERS PROTECTION ACT
PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT
(WPA) 1991
2015
The origin of this act dates back to 1957, when it was first created to expand the sewage disposal networks and improve connections to sewage treatment plants.
In 2015 Switzerland joined the Paris climate treaty, amongst 190 other countries, which will replace the Koyote Protocol and further limit greenhouse gases.7
The purpose of this Act is to protect waters against harmful effects. In particular it aims to preserve the health of people, animals and plants; to guarantee the supply and economic use of drinking water and water required for other purposes; to preserve the natural habitats of indigenous fauna and flora; to preserve waters suitable as a habitat for fish; to preserve waters as an element of the landscape; to ensure the irrigation of agricultural land; to permit the use of waters for leisure purposes; to ensure the natural functioning of the hydrological cycle.5
THE NATURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT
ZÜRICH NAMED MOST SUSTAINABLE CITY 2016
(NCHA) 1966
As a result to the introduction of the Waters Protection Act, there was now concern about potential rapid changes to the landscape which led to the enactment of this law. This Act is intended to carefully manage and protect heritage landscapes and sites of local character, historical sites, and the country's natural and cultural monuments, and to promote their preservation and upkeep.2
THE ENVIRONTMENTAL PROTECTION ACT
THE ORDINANCE ON AIR POLLUTION
CO2 ACT
This act is a branch off of the EPA as it was implemented before the full enactment of the EPA. It was quickly introduced as air pollution became publicly recognized.
This act was initially introduced in 1999 as a result to the World Environment Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. More holistic approaches to the environment were considered and later introduced such as the Kyoto Protocol (1998) which aimed to reduce green house gases.
(OPAC) 1985
This Ordinance is intended to protect human beings, animals and plants, their biological communities and habitats, and the soil against harmful effects or nuisances caused by air pollution.4
Named the “Most Sustainable City” by the Arcadia's Sustainable Cities Index for ranking the highest in the three dimensions: people, profit and planet.1
2011
This Act is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in particular CO2 emissions that are attributable to the use of fossil fuels (thermal and motor fuels) as energy sources with the aim of contributing to limiting the global rise in temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius.6
(EPA) 1983
After air pollution and destruction to forests as well as the Ozone layer became well known, this act was introduced but wasn’t fully implemented until 1985. This Act is intended to protect people, animals and plants, their biological communities and habitats against harmful effects or nuisances and to preserve the natural foundations of life sustainable, in particular biological diversity and the fertility of the soil.3
1 Arcadis. “Sustainable Cities Index 2016.” Arcadis,
2 P, Bundeskanzlei -. “The Federal CouncilThe Portal of the Swiss Government.” CC 451 Federal Act of 1 July 1966 on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage (NCHA) 3 P, Bundeskanzlei -. “The Federal CouncilThe Portal of the Swiss Government.” CC 814.01 Federal Act of 7 October 1983 on the Protection of the Environment (Environmental Protection Act, EPA), 4 P, Bundeskanzlei -. “The Federal CouncilThe Portal of the Swiss Government.” CC 814.318.142.1 Ordinance of 16 December 1985 on Air Pollution Control (OAPC)
5 P, Bundeskanzlei -. “The Federal CouncilThe Portal of the Swiss Government.” CC 814.20 Federal Act of 24 January 1991 on the Protection of Waters (Waters Protection Act, WPA) 6 P, Bundeskanzlei -. “The Federal CouncilThe Portal of the Swiss Government.” CC 641.71 Federal Act of 23 December 2011 on the Reduction of CO2 Emissions (CO2 Act) 7 swissinfo.ch. “Switzerland Signs Paris Climate Agreement.” SWI Swissinfo.ch, Swissinfo.ch, 22 Apr. 2016,