Cham – a municipality that sets an example
Cham is a municipality in the canton of Zug with over 18,000 residents. Cham has been a certified Energy City since 2001 and has held the Energy City Gold label since 2004. In light of changes in the energy and climate policy framework and the increased need for action on climate issues, the municipality of Cham has further developed the foundations for its commitment.
The municipality of Cham has set itself the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within its municipal boundaries by 2050, in line with national energy and climate targets. Internally, the administration is already aiming to achieve this goal by 2030.
To understand the baseline situation, Cham, with the support of Swiss Climate, has already calculated the greenhouse gas emissions of the municipal administration for the base year 2019. The resulting hotspots were analyzed, and the potential for emissions reduction was identified. By conducting new assessments for the reporting years 2021 and 2024, Cham was able to verify whether the trend in greenhouse gas emissions is compatible with the goal of net-zero by 2030 and where additional action is needed within the municipal administration.
“In 2025, the municipality of Cham assessed the greenhouse gas emissions of its municipal administration for the third time with the support of Swiss Climate. The project was implemented efficiently, with technical expertise, and in a pleasant collaborative manner. A service we are happy to recommend to other administrations.”
Mario Stadler, Environmental Project Manager, Municipality of Cham
As part of the net-zero target, one of the goals is to develop a carbon sink project within the municipality of Cham, enabling the municipality to assume full responsibility for the administration’s residual emissions as early as 2030. Swiss Climate supported the municipality of Cham in identifying potential projects through a preliminary study. The study examined existing project ideas that meet the requirements of the municipal administration and analyzed the implementation potential of both existing and new sink projects within the municipal area by project type. The preliminary study enabled the municipality of Cham to make an informed decision regarding which projects it wishes to examine more closely for its net-zero strategy.
In a subsequent step, the possibilities of two promising project types were examined in greater detail, and various partnerships as well as options for project collaboration were evaluated in the form of an in-depth feasibility study. Among other things, the interests of the various stakeholders were taken into account. Furthermore, the study analyzed the role the municipality of Cham could play in potential project development and how the eligibility of CO2 storage for the municipality could be ensured. It also identified which specific next project steps may still be necessary in the future.
The feasibility study enabled the municipality of Cham to make an informed decision on how it can support or develop projects in the coming years to achieve its net-zero goal.
The following services were provided by Swiss Climate for this project:
- Greenhouse gas inventory of the municipal administration
- Preliminary study on the development of a climate protection project within the municipality of Cham
- Feasibility study for an in-depth analysis of the feasibility of two specific project types
