Oil and Climate

A century of oil

For over a century, our society has been content to indulge in unfettered oil consumption. The price was too cheap to encourage any really responsible behaviour, and serious research into alternative sources of energy was relegated to the back burner. The past few years, however, have served as a double wake-up call. The world has realised that:

• the era of cheap oil is now a thing of the past, and
• the very rapid release of massive quantities of carbon, which Nature has taken millions of years to store, is having a devastating effect on the climate.

Reduction of CO₂ emissions: Switzerland’s commitment

Switzerland has set precise objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (-8% between 1990 and 2008/2012 for fuels), through legislation on CO₂ emissions and its commitment to the Kyoto process. However, CO₂ emissions continue to rise (+9% for private vehicles between 1990 and 2006), and concerted efforts in this area are vital.