In November 2024, the Governing Board of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) approved three methodologies for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). The methodologies are now eligible for issuing “high integrity” carbon credits under the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) label of the ICVCM. We are concerned with this decision. While the methodologies have been improved compared to previous versions, in our assessment they do not meet the requirements of the ICVCM Assessment Framework. Here we explain why. 

Air pollution, accidents, noise and climate change: transport has many costs that are not borne by the transport users themselves. On behalf of the federal government, INFRAS and Ecoplan have updated the methodology for calculating external effects and recalculated the figures for 2021. A new damage cost approach was adopted for calculating climate costs.

Progress has been made, but there is still a lot to be done when it comes to environmental sustainability at the 15 largest retail banks in Switzerland. These are the findings of the WWF Retail Bank Rating 2024, which INFRAS conducted for and together with the WWF. An important focus of the rating is the assessment of the impact of the banks' activities on the environment. 

Regions in focus: Cross-border cooperation does not only have to take place  at the national or European level. Border regions can also move forward together – including in the energy sector. INFRAS has conducted a study on the advantages, hurdles, and possibilities for regional cooperation in the energy transition.

What risks do climate change and the energy transition pose for the Swiss energy supply? And what measures contribute to resilience? Together with four universities and two partner companies from the private sector, INFRAS is addressing these questions in the RECIPE consortium.

How much space do cars, public transport vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians require? This is an increasingly important question in planning and politics, especially in built-up city areas. Working together with Lajo AG, INFRAS has developed a new methodology for estimating the land consumption of different modes of passenger transportation.  

The quality of connectivity describes how good the transport options are for an area. Until now, there has only been a uniform standard available for public transport. A research package, led by INFRAS, has now developed a new methodology and draft standards.  

A look at the present situation, past developments – and forecasts up to 2060: INFRAS has prepared a report on air pollutant emissions from road transport for the federal government. Modelling results show how stricter regulations affect the rate of emission reductions.

The annual Eurostat monitoring report shows how the EU is doing with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by analysing the development of the 17 SDGs. INFRAS once again contributed to the analysis for the 2024 edition.