Climate Change Conference in Cancún: Federal Council passes Negotiation Mandate
Bern, 17.11.2010 - The 16th United Nations Climate Change Conference takes place in Cancún (Mexico) from 29 November to 10 December. The Swiss Federal Council has defined the Swiss Delegation’s mandate for the negotiations. Doris Leuthard, the President of the Swiss Confederation, will represent Switzerland at the ministerial meeting.
The main aim of the 16th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún is to adopt an equitable package of resolutions that will define the key elements of a new climate agreement. A balance needs to be found between the commitments and concessions to be made by industrialised and newly industrialised nations. It is crucial that this balance be achieved to enable the passing of a comprehensive agreement in South Africa in late 2011.
The negotiations at the 16th UN Climate Chang Conference from 29 November to 10 December in the Mexican city of Cancún concern mandatory targets and measures to be undertaken by industrialised and newly industrialised nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 190-plus parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the parties to the Kyoto Protocol will also negotiate on adaptation to the effects of climate that have already occurred, on the financial and technological support of developing countries required to achieve this and on a shared vision for the future management of climate change.
The basis of the negotiations is provided by the Copenhagen Accord which was reached at the end of the climate change conference in Copenhagen in late 2009 and has been adopted by the majority of the parties to the UNFCCC in the meantime.
Switzerland supports the two-degree goal
In accordance with the mandate passed by the Federal Council on 17 November 2010, Switzerland supports the limitation of the increase in global temperature to two degrees Celsius. This goal can be achieved if global greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 50% by 2050 (as compared with 1990 levels).
Switzerland aspires to the establishment of a comprehensive new climate regime that would involve commitments for all industrialised states and the most important newly industrialised nations. Switzerland is willing to enter into a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol for 2013 to 2020, if:
- industrialised states that are not party to the Kyoto Protocol undertake a legally binding commitment to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to the same extent as the Kyoto states;
- and the newly-industrialised nations also undertake a legally binding commitment under the UNFCCC to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions within the scope of their capacities.
Subject to the agreement of parliament, Switzerland is prepared to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent (as compared with 1990 levels) by 2020. If other industrialised states commit to similar targets and the newly industrialised nations agree to undertake appropriate measures, Switzerland is willing to commit to a 30 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Greater resources for climate change reduction and adaptation measures
In accordance with the Copenhagen Accord, Switzerland is prepared to increase considerably the financial support provided to developing countries for measures aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. The Swiss parliament must make a final decision about the increase in this financial aid for the years 2010 to 2010. In the long term, Switzerland supports the aim of increasing the financial support provided by the industrialised states by a total of USD 100 billion up to 2020. In Cancún, Switzerland will make its contribution to these additional resources and the creation of a fund subject the commitments undertaken by the newly industrialised nations.
Switzerland will be represented at the ministerial meeting from 8 to 10 December by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard, and by Bruno Oberle, the Director of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Bruno Oberle is granted the title of State Secretary by the Federal Council for the duration of the Cancún climate change conference. The negotiating delegation will be led by Ambassador Franz Perrez, Head of the International Affairs Division, FOEN. The Swiss delegation, which numbers around 20 members, includes representatives of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA). The delegation also includes representatives from the fields of business and science and from development aid and environmental organisations.Address for enquiries
Contact with the Swiss Delegation:
28 November to 11 December 2010:
Franz Perrez, Ambassador, Leader of the negotiating delegation, FOEN, Tel. +41 79 251 90 15
6 to 10 December 2010:
Adrian Aeschlimann, Head of the Media Section, FOEN, Tel.+41 (0)79 277 51 83
During the ministerial section of the conference (8 to 10 December 2010):
Bruno Oberle, Director of the FOEN, Tel.+41(0)79 277 51 83 (in Cancún from 6 to 10 December 2010
Publisher
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
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