How green are the Swiss?

What’s the average carbon footprint in Switzerland? Who pollutes more: young or old, rich or poor, city dwellers or country folk? A new survey offers a detailed breakdown of personal CO2 emissions and suggests the Swiss largely underestimate their individual carbon footprints. Greenhouse gas emissions have been falling steadily in Switzerland since 1990. But as citizens of one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the Swiss have bigger carbon footprints than most others. A recent survey of Swiss residents gives details on the consumption habits and environmental impact of different groups. Income and age are decisive factors when it comes to CO2 emissions, the self-assessment survey by the Sotomo institute for the renewable energy firm Helion shows. Young adults are the worst offenders (11.3 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions per person); the average is 10.5 tonnes. But this high figure is largely down to a minority of 18- to 35-year-olds who consume a great deal and fly more...