In "Environment" 4/2005 the Swiss Federal Department for the Environment () presents the results of a 180 page report that is only available on-line as 1.7 MB pdf-file. Below are some excerpts of this report.

Keywords: decoupling, economic growth, pollution, technological progress, structural change, environmental policy

Sustainable development requires absolute decoupling of economic growth from negative impacts on the environment, i.e. economic growth must continue without entailing further increases in emissions or environmental damage. Analyses of changes in Switzerland and other countries over the last 30 years indicate that this goal has generally not yet been reached. Decomposition analyses show that
CO2 emissions (from traffic), land use and material use are all correlated with economic growth. On the other hand, emissions of some major traditional air pollutants (SO2, NOx, NMVOCs and CO) have been substantially reduced despite economic growth. Therefore, environmental policy and other policies related to climate change, settlements and infrastructure should consider the existing efficiency options. To increase the efficiency of economic activities in terms of the use of fossil fuels, materials and land, environmental policy at all levels should emphasise the promotion of technological progress and structural change (with modal shifts in transport).There are opportunities to achieve decoupling, even in the areas of particular concern.