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Bern (pte033/12.02.2003/14:04) - Switzerland's cement industry has become the first sector to join forces with the government in setting targets to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In a signed agreement, the sector has pledged to reduce emissions between now and 2010.
The agreement was made under the government's Energy Switzerland programme, which aims to achieve a ten per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared with 1990 levels. The target is required by national law.
Under the agreement, the cement industry is prepared to reduce the amount of CO2 produced by fossil fuel combustion processes by 44 per cent. This should largely be achieved through the replacement of fossil carbon-based fuels with renewables. A second binding target is to reduce the amount of CO2 resulting from manufacturing processes by 30 per cent.
Switzerland's federal agency for the environment, forests and landscape (Buwal) http://www.buwal.ch/ expects to conclude around 30 similar agreements with various financial sectors under the Energy Switzerland programme this year.
Despite expected progress, Buwal says the government has not ruled out the introduction of a special CO2 tax to help it meet the ten per cent target.
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