Liechtenstein country profile - SDGs and the environment

Liechtenstein`s action towards SDGs with an environmental dimension focuses primarily on SDGs 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15.

The Liechtenstein government is committed to an environmentally friendly approach to agriculture, as climate change is likely to pose the greatest risk to Liechtenstein’s agricultural sector. Liechtenstein has committed to reducing its carbon emissions to 40 % compared to 1990 levels (SDG 13). It recognises that an active climate policy can create the right incentives for the development and use of climate-friendly, sustainable and innovative technologies (Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 2019). 

Access to clean, modern and affordable energy is a priority for Liechtenstein (SDG 8) and a 2050 Energy Vision is currently being drawn up to achieve this goal. The government has also created stronger incentives for more efficient and less environmentally harmful resource management. Environmental taxes have increased and appear to have had some effect on consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) (Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 2019). 

The country is committed to global environmental protection and nature conservation and participates in close regional cooperation within Europe. Measures on the conservation of biodiversity (SDG 15) have either been implemented or are planned for the future. In 2017, the country launched ‘Waterfootprint Liechtenstein’, the rationale of which is ‘drink tap water; donate drinking water’ (SDG 6). The project aims to provide access to high-quality water for every resident of the Principality of Liechtenstein — i.e. to improve the living conditions of around 38 000 people in need. To date, a total of 22 009 ‘water footprints’ have been activated in Liechtenstein (Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 2019). 

The government established an Interdisciplinary Working Group led by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture. The Group is tasked with performing a gap analysis of the level of SDG action to ensure implementation and reviewing the availability of data for tracking progress (UN HLPF, 2019). The government also decided to define the SDGs together with the 2017-2021 Government Programme as one of the strategic guidelines for its work. It aims to ensure SDG action is as broad as possible (Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 2019).

Liechtenstein submitted a VNR to the UN in 2019.

The National Statistical Office (Amt für Statistik) maintains a national indicator system for sustainable development comprising a total of 55 indicators; it is published annually. Currently, the system is not based directly on the SDGs (Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, 2019).