Swiss policy compatible with Europe pathways (POLIZERO Project)      

The POLIZERO project examines how Switzerland can achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while maintaining policy credibility under uncertainty and ensuring coherence with European decarbonisation pathways. Funded by the Swiss Federal Office for Energy, the project combines stakeholder consultation, energy system modelling, and adaptive policy design to support the development of robust Swiss climate and energy strategies. 

At the core of the analysis is the JRC-EU-TIMES model (PSI version), which represents Switzerland within the broader European energy system and allows assessment of cross-border electricity trade, hydrogen imports, synthetic fuels, and CO₂ transport and storage links with the EU. The project integrates four analytical elements: a review of European decarbonisation policies, stakeholder engagement in Switzerland, techno-economic modelling, and adaptive policy sequencing using the Adaptive Policymaking Model (AIM). 

The modelling identifies the period 2025–2035 as a decisive decade for Switzerland’s transition. Solar PV capacity must roughly triple by 2035 to limit import dependence during nuclear phase-out and infrastructure renewal, while final energy demand declines through efficiency improvements. By 2050, electrification expands across buildings and transport, industry increasingly relies on hydrogen, aviation depends on synthetic fuels, and carbon capture and storage becomes necessary, with 6–10 Mt CO₂ per year requiring capture. Limited domestic storage potential implies integration into a European CO₂ transport and storage network. 

Adaptive pathway analysis shows that EU-aligned quantity-based instruments, such as participation in EU emissions trading systems, tend to be more robust under uncertainty than purely tax-based approaches. The study identifies several policy pathways with a high probability of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, highlighting the importance of early infrastructure deployment, coordinated policy sequencing, and strong cross-border cooperation.