Secondary Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Executive Summary

Secondary benefits of greenhouse gas reduction are positive side-effects of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in addition to the intended primary climate effect. Knowledge of secondary benefits is of key relevance to Swiss environmental policy since their effect is immediate, while any mitigation of the anthropogenic influence on our climate can only be discerned in the longer term, and, moreover, is highly dependent on international policies. The Advisory Body on Climate Change (OcCC–Organe consultatif sur les changements climatiques) has identified and evaluated the most significant secondary benefits, reaching the conclusion that – apart from improving the global climate – reducing greenhouse gas emissions will entail substantial additional benefits at national level.

Conclusions

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions not only mitigates the global climate problem, it also entails substantial secondary benefits at the national level.
The greatest secondary benefits result if comprehensive measures to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels are implemented. Primary focus of reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be on reducing consumption by way of economic instruments; substitution or carbon sinks should be secondary strategies.
Measures not affecting income distribution, and the realization of additional benefits justify the implementation of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions irrespective of the discussion on the type and extent of climate-related damage. Therefore, in addition to the idea of insurance, e.g. climate protection measures to prevent imperfectly known risks, the expected secondary benefits represent a key argument for a rapid implementation of effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Secondary Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Synthesis report

Executive Summary

Conclusions