Overview and position on climate and energy policies

Climate and energy policy have a significant impact on production at the Swiss industrial base. It is therefore essential that ambitious climate targets are achieved without placing Switzerland as a business location at a disadvantage. This can only be accomplished through a climate policy aligned internationally and a secure, sustainable energy supply at competitive prices.

In international comparison, Switzerland continues to exhibit low CO₂ and energy intensity. According to the OECD, it is among the countries that have largely succeeded in decoupling economic growth from emissions and energy consumption—particularly thanks to low-carbon electricity generation and efficient economic structures.

The chemical and pharmaceutical industry also makes a measurable contribution: by European standards, it shows very low greenhouse gas intensity (ranked 3rd) and achieves high energy efficiency per franc of value added (ranked 2nd). The energy mix is strongly electrified, while the share of fossil energy sources has declined in recent years; renewable energies already accounted for around 10% of energy consumption in 2023. This is highlighted by the Global Industry Competitiveness Index (GICI) 2025, which ranks the sector among the most competitive and environmentally efficient in Europe.

Commitment to proactive and effective climate protection

The members of scienceindustries explicitly recognize the reality of climate change. They support the Swiss Confederation’s net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050 as a fundamental objective and advocate proactive and effective climate protection. They are already making a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions—by optimizing processes in their own facilities as well as along their supply chains. At the same time, many of our members provide concrete solutions to address climate challenges, as outlined in our position paper “Proactive and Effective Climate Protection.”

It is the declared goal of our industry to continuously improve and achieve excellence in environmental protection, health protection, and safety. Within the framework of the “Responsible Care” program, scienceindustries members voluntarily commit to the safe handling of their products throughout the entire value chain—from production and transport to processing of the final product. Through “Responsible Care,” we demonstrate how our industries contribute, with their innovative products, processes, and facilities, to addressing societal challenges and advancing the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Innovative, internationally aligned climate policy

As suppliers to numerous sectors, the chemical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries also contribute to the transition toward a climate-friendly economy—for example through innovative materials, technologies, and inputs for renewable energy systems, energy storage, or efficient production processes. At the same time, like the entire export-oriented economy, they operate in an intensely competitive global environment and depend on reliable, internationally aligned framework conditions. These include competitive energy prices, planning certainty for investments, and climate policy instruments designed to be compatible with those of key trading partners.

An internationally coordinated climate policy is therefore essential. Equally important are technology-neutral and innovation-friendly framework conditions that enable entrepreneurial initiative, promote market-based solutions, and strengthen the development of efficient climate technologies in Switzerland.

Secure, sustainable and competitive electricity supply

To ensure Switzerland’s electricity supply in the future, a holistic energy policy is required—one that balances security of supply, climate objectives, and competitiveness. A rapid and coordinated expansion of domestic energy production, grid infrastructure, and storage capacity is crucial, as is close coordination with European energy markets.

For industry, electricity supply is central, as the decarbonization of the energy system increasingly relies on electrification—particularly in manufacturing and process heat. A technologically broad and innovation-friendly design of the electricity system strengthens resilience, enables cost-efficient solutions, and lays the foundation for this transformation. Stable framework conditions and competitive electricity prices remain key to ensuring that companies continue to invest in efficiency, new technologies, and climate-friendly production processes in Switzerland.