Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
August 2020: Finishing touches are made to tracks in the Ceneri base tunnel before the start of trial operations on 1 September 2020.
Roads, rail, power and the media: DETEC assures Switzerland’s basic public services. But it also takes care of our natural environment: woodlands, landscape, water, air, plants and animals. DETEC pursues a climate policy that is also beneficial for the economy.
Member of the Federal Council since 2010.
The NRLA means heavy goods vehicles can be transferred from our roads to rail, helping us to protect the climate.
Priorities 2021
The Lötschberg tunnel entered into operation in 2007, the Gotthard followed in 2016 and the Ceneri – the final section of the new rail link through the Alps – in 2020, marking the completion of the NRLA. Passengers are now able to travel more rapidly between north and south, Ticino has obtained a high-quality regional rail service, and we are consolidating our traffic transfer policy. We are now able to transport even more goods through Switzerland by rail instead of by road – just as the people of Switzerland decided in a series of popular votes. This protects nature, people and the climate.
Switzerland is an Alpine country and is particularly affected by the impact of climate change: the glaciers are melting, permafrost is thawing, and mountainsides are slipping into valleys. All of this poses a threat to people and infrastructure. DETEC is therefore striving to do more in terms of climate protection.
In the field of energy, for example, we want to move away from oil and gas, which are expensive and harmful to the climate, and make a rapid switch to more solar, hydro- and wind power. This is what the public wants. We are therefore in the process of amending the Energy and Electricity Supply Act.
With regard to the environment, Parliament has tightened up the CO2 Act. This will enable us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, industry and buildings. And the Act gives a boost to renewable energies. In addition, we are creating orders and jobs for industry.
An effective climate policy and a strong economy are not mutually incompatible. On the contrary, by moving away from oil and gas we can create jobs with long-term prospects here at home.
Expenses 2019
(CHF)
12.59bn
Staff (FTEs) 2019
2285
Organisation chart DETEC
General Secretariat GS-DETEC
Secretary General: Matthias Ramsauer
www.uvek.admin.ch
Federal Office of Transport FOT
Director: Peter Füglistaler
www.bav.admin.ch
Federal
Office of Civil Aviation FOCA
Director: Christian Hegner
www.bazl.admin.ch
Swiss
Federal Office of Energy SFOE
Director: Benoît Revaz
www.bfe.admin.ch
Federal
Roads Office FEDRO
Director: Jürg Röthlisberger
www.astra.admin.ch
Federal
Office of Communications OFCOM
Director: Bernard Maissen
www.bakom.admin.ch
Federal
Office for the Environment FOEN
Director: Kathrin Schneeberger
www.bafu.admin.ch
Federal
Office for Spatial Development ARE
Director: Maria Lezzi
www.are.admin.ch
Autonomous organisations
Swiss
Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI
Director: Marc Kenzelmann
www.ensi.ch
Federal Inspectorate for Heavy
Current Installations ESTI
Director: Daniel Otti
www.esti.admin.ch
Swiss Transportation Safety
Investigation Board STSB
President: Pieter Zeilstra
www.sust.admin.ch
Federal Electricity Commission
ElCom
President: Werner Luginbühl
www.elcom.admin.ch
Federal Communications
Commission ComCom
President: Adrienne Corboud Fumagalli
www.comcom.admin.ch
Independent Complaints
Authority for Radio and Television ICA
President: Mascha Santschi Kallay
www.ubi.admin.ch
Federal Postal Services
Commission PostCom
President: Anne Seydoux-Christe
www.postcom.admin.ch
Rail Transport Commission RailCom
President: Patrizia Danioth Halter
www.railcom.admin.ch
