Statistical institutions – Federal Office for the EnvironmentOverview

Postal address
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
3003 Bern

Location
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
Papiermühlestrasse 172
3063 Ittigen

Phone no.: 031 322 93 11
Fax: 031 322 99 81
Web: www.environment-switzerland.ch
e-Mail: info@bafu.admin.ch

Director: Dr Bruno M.C. Oberle

The FOEN is the federal environmental authority. It is responsible for ensuring that natural resources are used sustainably, that the public is protected against natural hazards, and that the environment is protected from unacceptable adverse impacts.

In accordance with the sustainability strategy of DETEC, the FOEN pursues the following goals:

• long-term preservation and sustainable use of natural resources (land, water, forests, air, climate, biological and landscape diversity) and elimination of existing damage;
• protection of the public against excessive pollution (noise, harmful organisms and substances, non-ionizing radiation, wastes, contaminated land and major incidents);
• protection of people and significant assets against hydrological and geological hazards (flooding, earthquakes, avalanches, landslides, erosion and rockfalls).

In order to achieve these goals, the FOEN has been assigned the following responsibilities:

• environmental monitoring, to provide a sound basis for the management of resources;
• preparation of decisions, to secure a comprehensive and coherent policy of sustainable management of natural resources and prevention of natural hazards;
• implementing the legal foundations, supporting enforcement partners and providing information on the state of the environment and on the appropriate use and protection of natural resources.

FOEN publishes a number of documents on environmental themes. They are intended for specialists from the public sector and implementation authorities, as well as for politicians, researchers, the private sector and the interested public.