From Constitutional Mandate to Holistic Sustainability: Insights from Switzerland’s Strategic Approach

Abstract

Abstract In the complex landscape of the 21st century, sustainability stands as a guiding principle, urging individuals, businesses, and governments to adopt policies and practices that promote resilience and collective well-being. Switzerland has gradually defined a multidimensional framework to promote sustainable development, encompassing legal mandates, sector strategies, and innovative practices. Since 1999, sustainability has been incorporated into the Swiss Federal Constitution, aligning the concept of sustainability with the definition of the Brundtland Commission. The Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) and its integration with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provide a comprehensive roadmap for national sustainability initiatives, ensuring alignment with global goals. The current state of scientific literature on sustainability in Switzerland reveals specific analyses in dedicated areas yet there is an absence of analyses that synthesize the multitude of dimensions in Switzerland’s sustainability approach. The research methodology of the current paper combines a top-down examination of the existing legal framework, starting from the incorporation of sustainable development principles into the Federal Constitution, with a literature review across various sectors and policy domains. The research question guiding this study focuses on clarifying Switzerland’s holistic approach to sustainability and identifying key policies and initiatives that helped the country achieve progress and ensure the coverage of various economic, social, and environmental areas. The main results of this study highlight Switzerland’s robust sustainability legal framework, constitutional mandate, innovative approaches, and a concerted effort to align policies with sustainability goals. The implications of these findings for the field offer insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking to understand and replicate Switzerland’s success in integrating sustainability into governance frameworks. In synthesizing the contributions of this paper, Switzerland’s sustainability journey develops gradually to serve as a valuable case study for other nations, demonstrating the value that relies on interconnecting environmental protection, economic prosperity, and social well-being.