Swiss ETS
Swiss Emission Trading Scheme linking with EU Emission Trading System
On 01.01.2020, the linking agreement between the Swiss ETS and EU ETS came into force. Consequently, operators need to report intra-EEA flights, Swiss domestic flights, and flights between Switzerland and the EEA through the “one-stop-shop” reporting via their Competent Authorities, meaning that they will be reaching compliance with both the Swiss ETS and the EU ETS through a single Competent Authority.
Operators based in Switzerland have had their Competent Authority (CA) change to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Competent Authorities remain unchanged for other operators.
The new linked ETS covers all flights already included in the EU ETS (i.e. all intra-EEA flights), as well as flights between EEA and Switzerland and Swiss domestic flights.
Strictly speaking, flights departing EEA and arriving in Switzerland will be accounted for in the EU ETS, together with the intra-EEA flights, while the Swiss domestic flights and Swiss to EEA flights will be accounted for in the Swiss ETS.
Operators based in Switzerland have had their Competent Authority (CA) change to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Competent Authorities remain unchanged for other operators.
The new linked ETS covers all flights already included in the EU ETS (i.e. all intra-EEA flights), as well as flights between EEA and Switzerland and Swiss domestic flights.
Strictly speaking, flights departing EEA and arriving in Switzerland will be accounted for in the EU ETS, together with the intra-EEA flights, while the Swiss domestic flights and Swiss to EEA flights will be accounted for in the Swiss ETS.
One-stop-shop: Aircraft operators whose flights fall under both emissions trading systems will be administered by only one state. This means that all previous IT systems or communication channels are retained and the duplication of work is avoided. Emission reports or monitoring plans need only be submitted to one authority and allowances to be surrendered in one registry. The allocation of emissions and allowances to the two emissions trading systems is carried out by the competent authority.
The table below summarizes the distinction of coverage of flights under each of the systems.
The table below summarizes the distinction of coverage of flights under each of the systems.
| One-stop shop for reaching compliance | |
| Flights covered by EU ETS | Flights covered by Swiss ETS |
| Intra-EEA flights | Swiss domestic flights |
| Flights from the EEA to Switzerland | Flights from Switzerland to the EEA |
Reporting of flights subject to Swiss (CH) ETS:
The European Commission has now issued an updated version of the EU ETS Annual emissions report (AER) template that facilitates Swiss ETS reporting together with EU ETS reporting. The new template is essentially the old template that has been expanded with Swiss ETS sections and can be downloaded here.
The most important feature of the template is that, in most of the sections, operators need to make a distinction between whether flights should be reported under EU ETS or the Swiss ETS. With that in mind, and unless explicitly stated otherwise, flights departing the EEA and arriving in Switzerland shall be reported in the EU ETS sections of the AER, while Swiss domestic flights and flights departing from Switzerland and arriving in EEA shall be reported in the Swiss ETS sections of the AER.
Additionally, it is worth noting that in section 9 of the AER, operators need to identify whether a specific aircraft was used on flights subject to EU ETS, Swiss ETS, and/or CORSIA.
Allowances:
Both EU ETS and Swiss ETS aviation allowances can be used for meeting the surrendering obligations of both systems through the one-stop shop. This includes free allowances.
Qualified aircraft operators have already received additional free allowances that they were eligible for based on the expansion of the scope of EU ETS (to include EEA-Switzerland flights).
Similarly, any operators who were due a Swiss free allocation have been informed by the FOEN about the amount of their free allocation.
Click here to get more detailed information from FOEN.
If you have any questions about the linking agreement between the Swiss ETS and EU ETS, or have verification needs under either of the programs, our team of experienced auditors at VERIFAVIA is available to assist you and can be reached at corsia@verifavia.com.
Click here to refer to the complete Aircraft Operators Attribution List (Commission Regulation (EU) 2020_535)
Qualified aircraft operators have already received additional free allowances that they were eligible for based on the expansion of the scope of EU ETS (to include EEA-Switzerland flights).
Similarly, any operators who were due a Swiss free allocation have been informed by the FOEN about the amount of their free allocation.
Click here to get more detailed information from FOEN.
If you have any questions about the linking agreement between the Swiss ETS and EU ETS, or have verification needs under either of the programs, our team of experienced auditors at VERIFAVIA is available to assist you and can be reached at corsia@verifavia.com.
Click here to refer to the complete Aircraft Operators Attribution List (Commission Regulation (EU) 2020_535)
Collection of TKM data:
The collection of TKM data for Swiss ETS was performed in 2019, based on 2018 activity levels. FOEN has already communicated the allocation of Swiss free allowances to all operators who were due one.
> Click here for Swiss ETS FAQs
