Climate Forest Turns Grassland into CO₂ Storage, Habitat, and Climate Cooler.
25% of the country's area is used for cheese production. If we produce 10% less, 1 billion m2 of land will be freed up to be used for something meaningful. The best option would be: Climate Forest. A forest that would be legally regulated differently so that it also functions as living space.
Problem
- A significant portion of agricultural land in Switzerland is used for milk and cheese production. A partial reduction of this use could free up large areas for alternative and sustainable purposes.
- Climate policy faces the challenge of whether to focus on reducing CO₂ emissions or combating the consequences of climate change.
- Existing approaches in climate protection and spatial planning often do not simultaneously consider ecological, economic, and social interests.
- In climate policy, the reduction of CO2 emissions and the mitigation of the consequences of climate change are often played off against each other, but both are needed.
- In Switzerland, a large portion of the milk is produced in the mountainous region. Which crops could be grown at 1000 m above sea level for human nutrition?
Solution
- A new forest law should enable the conversion of grassland into 'climate forests' to store CO₂ and cool the surroundings.
- Climate forests should be legally designed so that they can also be used as moderate living spaces.
- Commercial and non-commercial interests should be equally considered to ensure a sustainable usage concept for climate forests.
- Landowners who provide areas for climate forests should be supported through a fair compensation model.
Benefit
- Climate forests make a dual contribution to the climate crisis by both binding CO₂ and reducing the effects of heat.
- Climate forests can serve as a natural and cost-effective alternative to artificial cooling (e.g., air conditioning).
- Climate forests offer a sustainable solution that is ecologically and economically sensible in the long term.
- The multifunctional use of the areas creates benefits for the environment, housing, and citizens.
Public support
Total votes: 34
Breakdown: FullyOnBoard: 15, NothingAgainstIt: 5, NoChance: 4, NeedForDiscussion: 4, Concerns: 3, SoundsGood: 3
Discussion
- Jan Mathis (2026-06-11): How exactly should this climate forest look? With treehouses? Or how should people live in it? From a climate perspective, a forest would be particularly sustainable if it is not used for forestry and is left "alone". Old (thick) trees should be allowed to remain until they die and then continue to provide habitat as dead wood. This binds a lot of carbon. With living in the forest (path network, infrastructure, electricity, waste, ...) and commercial use (forestry?) it would have nothing to do with a climate forest (or at least not what I understand it to be).