Moritz Leuenberger opens the Global Ministerial Environment Forum
Bern, 07.02.2006 - This morning, Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger opened the Global Ministerial Environment Forum of UN member counties, which is being held in Dubai until 9th February. He called upon the ministers to set concrete, measurable objectives for global environment policy, based on the model of the Millenium Development Goals. To advance “we have to put ourselves under pressure” said Moritz Leuenberger.
Based on the objectives defined at the global level in the areas of climate (Kyoto Protocol), of biodiversity (reducing loss of biodiversity as far as possible by 2010) and of chemicals (minimising negative effects on the environment and on health by 2020), Moritz Leuenberger launched the idea of establishing a global agenda for all global environment policy.
This agenda would be a valuable instrument to stimulate efforts, make progress more visible and to improve the awareness of governments and populations. In addition, criteria should be fixed to enable progress to be measured, to examine the results and to adjust the objectives, if necessary.
Apart from the Swiss proposal, the environment ministers of UN member states will also examine how the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) could contribute to implementing the international strategy for the management of chemicals, adopted at the International Conference on Chemicals Management, which came to a close yesterday in Dubai. In this strategy the states defined the general framework for the development of the chemicals system at the global level from the present until 2020. More coherence and synergies must be developed through an action plan which was also approved yesterday. A launching fund has been decided upon, to support the implementation of the strategy in developing countries. Switzerland will participate, to the extent of 3 million Swiss Francs over 18 months.
The ministers will also discuss issues of energy and climate protection. Minister Leuenberger will be present at the Forum today. On Wednesday and Thursday Dr Bruno Oberle, Director of the FOEN will lead the Swiss delegation.
Address for enquiries
André Simonazzi, DETEC spokesperson, tel. +41 31 322 55 41
Contact with the Swiss delegation during the Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Dubai and information about the results of the International Conference on Chemicals Management
Franz Perrez, Head of Global Issues Section, Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), tel. +41 79 251 90 15 (N.B. 3h difference in time zone)
Media office, Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), tel. +41 31 322 90 00
Publisher
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
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