7 Acts - Switzerland Edition

These 7 Acts have been adapted to reflect Switzerland’s climate policies, energy landscape, food systems and healthcare infrastructure, offering practical, evidence-based actions tailored to the Swiss context.

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Act 1: Move your Money

To A Bank That Doesn’t Invest in Fossil Fuels

Switching to a sustainable bank is one of the most impactful climate actions you can take.

Switzerland’s major banks continue to funnel significant financing into fossil fuel projects, and none of the 15 banks assessed by WWF achieved a rating above “Ambitious”. But several regional and ethical banks are taking steps towards climate-aligned finance and offer consumers more responsible options.

Sustainable Banking Options in Switzerland.

ABS – Alternative Bank Schweiz
Switzerland’s strongest performer in the WWF retail banking ranking (though still not at an “ideal” level).
Focused on ethical investment, transparent governance, and a 2030 net-zero commitment.

Link: https://www.abs.ch

Raiffeisen Switzerland
One of the better-rated mainstream banks in WWF’s 2024 retail ranking; improving transparency and sustainability measures.

Link: https://www.raiffeisen.ch

Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB)
Committed to climate and biodiversity goals under the “Initiative for a Sustainable Swiss Financial Centre".

Link: https://www.zkb.ch

Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB)
Shows progress in sustainability governance and retail finance according to WWF’s 2024 review.

Link: https://www.tkb.ch

BEKB – Berner Kantonalbank
Identified by WWF as advancing policies across lending and investment.

https://www.bernerkb.ch

Helpful tools:

WWF Swiss Bank Ratings
Side-by-side scoring tool showing how Swiss banks perform on sustainability, governance, and fossil fuel exclusion.
https://www.wwf.ch/de/unsere-ziele/wwf-retailbanken-rating#resultate

Citywire: Top Sustainable Swiss Banks Overview
Summary of Swiss retail bank rankings and where each provider stands on climate action.
https://citywire.com/ch/news/ranked-wwfs-top-sustainable-swiss-banks/a1111601

Act 2: Move your Power Supply

To A 100% Renewable Resource

Switzerland’s energy system still relies heavily on fossil fuels — around 60% of total final energy consumption comes from oil and gas, contributing significantly to national CO₂ emissions

While the electricity sector has a high share of renewables, heating and household energy use remain major sources of climate impact. Switching to a cleaner electricity plan is one of the simplest steps households can take.

Find Green Electricity Options in Switzerland.

Because Switzerland does not have a fully privatised electricity market, residents typically stay with their local utility supplier — but you can still change your tariff or choose a greener plan from your regional supplier

Topten – Green Electricity Comparison
Independent guide comparing Switzerland’s most climate-friendly electricity tariffs.
https://www.topten.ch/private/products/green_electricity

MyNewEnergy – Stromvergleich Schweiz
A national comparison tool showing electricity offers based on renewable content, CO₂ intensity and provider.
https://www.mynewenergy.ch/

EnergieSchweiz – Decarbonisation Information
Swiss federal guidance on reducing fossil-fuel dependence, improving building energy efficiency and accelerating renewable integration.
https://www.energieschweiz.ch/sich-informieren/dekarbonisierung/

Why Switch?

  1. Lower your carbon footprint immediately

  2. Reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels

  3. Improve energy security

  4. Support Switzerland’s transition to renewable power

  5. Often cost-competitive with mainstream suppliers

Energy in Healthcare

Several Zurich hospitals will soon heat and cool buildings using renewable lake energy from Lake Zurich, a major step toward fossil-free hospital energy by 2027. This “blue energy” project is a flagship initiative involving multiple Swiss institutions.

Switzerland also offers PV feed-in tariffs (“Einspeisevergütung”) that allow facilities and households to earn money from solar power generation:
https://www.energieheld.ch/photovoltaik/einspeiseverguetung

Act 3: More Plant Based Food

Shop Seasonal and Local Where Possible

Food consumption accounts for a major share of Switzerland’s environmental footprint.
According to the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), a climate-friendly diet is one of the most effective personal actions to reduce emissions and land use impacts.

Shifting towards more plant-based meals, reducing food waste and choosing local, seasonal foods can significantly lower your carbon footprint.

What you can do.

  • FOEN identifies increased plant-based eating as a core action for reducing Switzerland’s food-system emissions. Plant-rich diets require fewer resources and generate substantially fewer greenhouse gases compared to animal products.

  • Swiss environmental guidelines emphasise selecting seasonal, regional produce to lower transportation emissions and support sustainable farming systems.

  • Around one-third of Switzerland’s food is wasted along the supply chain and in households. FOEN highlights food waste reduction as a key climate action for consumers, with high potential for impact.

  • Labels such as Bio Suisse and other certified sustainable schemes help consumers choose products that meet higher environmental standards.

Act 4: More Green Travel

Choose Low Carbon Ways to Move Around

Transport is one of the largest contributors to Switzerland’s environmental footprint.
Private car use and short-distance travel remain major sources of emissions, and reducing reliance on high-carbon transport modes is a key part of Switzerland’s climate strategy.

Shifting even some journeys to public transport, cycling or walking can significantly lower your individual carbon impact.

What you can do.

  • Public transport in Switzerland is efficient, reliable and one of the easiest ways to cut your travel emissions. Choosing trains, trams or buses instead of driving reduces energy use, lowers congestion and helps support a cleaner national transport system. Even swapping a few weekly car journeys for public transport can make a meaningful difference.

  • Many everyday trips are only a few kilometres long. Walking or cycling these short distances is one of the simplest ways to cut your carbon footprint. It reduces local air pollution, supports better health and often gets you where you’re going just as quickly as driving in busy areas.

  • Small choices add up. Avoiding unnecessary car journeys and choosing lower-carbon options whenever possible helps reduce Switzerland’s overall transport emissions. If there’s a cleaner alternative — public transport, active travel, or combining errands into one trip — taking it can make a meaningful difference.

Act 5: More Pre-Loved

Choose Local Low-Carbon Brands

Choose Reused, Repaired and Second-Hand to Cut Waste

Buying second-hand and extending the life of what you already own is one of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental footprint. In Switzerland, high-quality goods circulate for years through reuse, repair and resale — making it easy to choose lower-impact options without compromising on quality.

  • Buying second-hand and extending the life of what you already own is one of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental footprint. In Switzerland, high-quality goods circulate for years through reuse, repair and resale — making it easy to choose lower-impact options without compromising on quality.

  • Before buying something new, check whether you already own something that works just as well. Reusing items saves money, reduces waste and avoids the emissions associated with producing new goods.

  • Many everyday items — from clothing to electronics — can be repaired at low cost. Choosing repair over replacement keeps valuable materials in use for longer and reduces landfill.

  • Switzerland has a strong culture of high-quality second-hand shopping, from clothing to furniture and electronics. Buying pre-loved items cuts emissions, saves resources and often offers better value than buying new.

  • If you no longer need something, donating or giving it a second life helps keep useful items out of landfill and supports a circular economy mindset.

  • When new purchases are necessary, choose durable, responsibly made products. Longer-lasting items reduce waste and make a meaningful contribution to lowering your environmental impact over time.

Act 6: Measure Your Carbon Footprint

And cut where you can.

Monitoring your carbon footprint helps you identify where the biggest climate gains can be made — from household energy use to travel and food choices. Understanding your emissions gives you a clearer picture of which small changes can lead to meaningful reductions.

Carbon Footprint Tools in Switzerland

At this time, Switzerland does not provide a single national carbon footprint calculator equivalent to those available in some neighbouring countries. However, the same principles apply: reviewing your household energy use, travel habits and consumption patterns can help you understand where your largest emissions come from and where reductions are easiest to make.

Act 7: Motivate your loved ones

Your actions can influence others - sometimes more than you realise.

Share your journey or small climate steps with friends, family, or on social media.

  • Encourage colleagues in your workplace to be change agents.

  • If you’re hosting an event, make it low-waste and climate-conscious — your guests will notice.

Even simple conversations can spark bigger shifts.