Compared to other countries Switzerland has low per capita emissions of greenhouse gases because only domestic emissions are considered in the official greenhouse gas inventory established in line with UNFCCC guidelines. In order to get a more realistic view of the emissions caused by Switzerland, embodied emissions due to imports and exports of goods and services are quantified in this study for the years 1990 to 2004. The calculation is based on foreign trade statistics and life cycle assessment studies.  

Considering the embodied emissions due to imports and exports the total greenhouse gas emissions are quantified to be 12.5 tonnes CO₂-equivalents (10.7 tonnes CO₂) per capita. Only 7.2 tonnes CO₂-equivalents (6.0 tonnes CO₂) out of this are domestic emissions.