This year is an important one for international climate policy. After a two-year break due to COVID, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) was held in Glasgow, Scotland from 31 October to 13 November. The aim of the conference was to adopt robust rules for implementing the Paris Agreement.
- Conclusion of COP26
- Switzerland a pioneer in climate protection agreements
- Switzerland and Vanuatu sign climate protection agreement
- Federal Councillor Sommaruga at COP26
- Video series on the Climate Change Conference
- Virtual meeting with the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions IEA (26 October 2021)
- Climate Change Pre-COP in Milan (30 September to 2 October)
- Video conference on the coordination of climate goals (7 September 2021)
- Talk with Rwandan Environment Minister Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya (17 August 2021)
- Talk with John Kerry (5 August 2021)
- Ministerial Climate Meeting in London (25 July 2021)
- 12th Petersberg Climate Dialogue (6/7 May 2021)
- Tweets relating to the discussions from March to May 2021
- Links/Media
According to the United Nations, global warming will reach approximately three degrees Celsius by the end of the century unless effective action is taken at international level. This figure exceeds the mitigation target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, a legally binding treaty ratified by 189 countries and the EU which commits parties to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to keep the average global temperature increase well below two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
Conclusion of COP26
«#COP26 is now history – but we did not make history in Glasgow. Given the high expectations, we cannot be truly satisfied with the outcome. But on certain points we did make some progress.»https://t.co/7UcxAe0Khz
— UVEK - DETEC - DATEC (@UVEK) November 14, 2021
© DETEC
Switzerland a pioneer in climate protection agreements
Through its climate protection agreements, Switzerland aims to set an international standard in respect of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. To date, it has signed climate protection agreements with six countries: Peru, Ghana, Senegal, Georgia, Vanuatu, Dominica, and further agreements are under way. At a press conference in Glasgow on 11 November, Ms Sommaruga and various ministers of the environment and high-ranking representatives from partner countries explained the mutual benefits of these agreements and outlined their respective countries' engagement. Swiss retail giant Coop presented the benefits of such agreements for the private sector.
🇨🇭 is setting an international standard with its #ClimateAgreements. I would like to thank all ministers, the @WWF, @coop_ch and #KliK for their support in Glasgow. With these agreements, countries like Switzerland can also reduce CO2 emissions abroad. https://t.co/p0AXfBueFq pic.twitter.com/5H30hBD8RY
— Simonetta Sommaruga (@s_sommaruga) November 12, 2021
Switzerland and Vanuatu sign climate protection agreement
On 11 November, Switzerland and Vanuatu signed an agreement creating the conditions for Switzerland to reduce CO2 emissions through projects in Vanuatu. Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga signed the agreement at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, while Vanuatu's Minister of Climate Change Bruno Lenkon Tao attended virtually. One of the key aspects of the climate protection agreement is that it ensures emissions reductions are not counted in both countries.
Federal Councillor Sommaruga at COP26
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga travelled to the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow on 9 November 2021. She will participate with the environment ministers of the other countries in negotiations at ministerial level and in the conference decision-making process. In addition, at the invitation of COP President Alok Sharma, she and Rwanda's Environment Minister Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya are co-chairing consultations on the issue of states' climate targets.
Video series on the Climate Change Conference
In the run-up to the COP26, Environment Ambassador Perrez talks about Switzerland's goals at the Climate Change Conference in four videos.
Virtual meeting with the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions IEA
In 2021, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga was elected to the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions, an IEA commission. The Commission has drafted a set of recommendations placing people at the heart of the energy transition.
It was a great pleasure to participate in yesterday’s meeting of the Global Commission on People-Centred #CleanEnergyTransitions, convened by @IEA. Our 12 key recommendations address critical issues for governments at #COP26
— Simonetta Sommaruga (@s_sommaruga) October 27, 2021
Find the #recommendations: https://t.co/tg6vLfrcyw https://t.co/yhQMHtTaVP
Climate Change Pre-COP in Milan
© DETEC
From 30 September to 2 October Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga attended the preparatory meeting in Milan for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). Among other issues, Switzerland campaigned there to prevent double counting of the greenhouse gas emissions that countries reduce through climate protection projects abroad. Switzerland's climate agreements with Peru, Ghana and Senegal demonstrate that positive solutions can be found in the interests of both Switzerland and the country in question. Thanks to these climate agreements, Switzerland and Swiss companies can make a greater contribution to global climate protection than would be possible through domestic measures alone. Another pending issue ahead of November's major climate conference in Glasgow is the timeframe in which each country intends to formulate its climate targets. COP26 President Alok Sharma tasked Federal Councillor Sommaruga and Rwandan Environment Minister Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya with seeking solutions in this regard. The two ministers are currently examining how countries' climate targets could be better coordinated in terms of time. To this end, they held a series of consultations in Milan with the main countries concerned.
Video conference on the coordination of climate goals
«How can countries better coordinate the timeframes for their climate goals? That is the question that the Rwandan environment minister @MujaJeanne and I discussed today with environment ministers from 40 countries.»@COP26 #OnthewaytoGlasgowhttps://t.co/mXghwrqHEz https://t.co/502dzjFYVX
— UVEK - DETEC - DATEC (@UVEK) September 7, 2021
Talk with Rwandan Environment Minister Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya
Premier entretien avec la ministre de l’environnement du Rwanda, @MujaJeanne. À la demande du président de la #COP26 @AlokSharma_RDG, nous cherchons des solutions pour que les pays coordonnent mieux dans le temps leurs objectifs climatiques. #OnTheWayToGlasgow pic.twitter.com/9E30o39Bia
— Simonetta Sommaruga (@s_sommaruga) August 17, 2021
Talk with John Kerry
On 5 August 2021, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga held talks with John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. The virtual meeting focused on global climate protection. Both countries believe that international efforts are vital to counter the advance of global warming.
Die extremen Wetterereignisse bereiten nicht nur mir Sorgen. Im Gespräch betont @ClimateEnvoy John Kerry, dass wir die Signale nicht mehr ignorieren dürfen. Auch die USA wollen am kommenden Klimagipfel #COP26 vorwärts machen. #OnthewaytoGlasgow https://t.co/qK6Ee4CpwC pic.twitter.com/HPydiGRspR
— Simonetta Sommaruga (@s_sommaruga) August 5, 2021
Ministerial Climate Meeting in London
Federal Councillor Sommaruga attended the Ministerial Climate Meeting in London on 25 July 2021. At the meeting, she held bilateral talks with Alok Sharma, the President of COP26, and the Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn.
In the run-up to COP26, Federal Councillor Sommaruga will work with the Minister of Environment of Rwanda, Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, to ensure that all countries formulate their climate target for the same year. Alok Sharma has asked the two ministers to work on this in an official capacity.
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and Alok Sharma, President of COP26
© DETEC
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry
© DETEC
Sveinung Rotevatn, Minister of the Environment of Norway
© DETEC
Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment of South Africa
© DETEC12th Petersberg Climate Dialogue
40 ministres de l’environnement ont abordé la mise en œuvre de l’Accord de Paris sur le climat lors du 12e Dialogue de Petersberg. La CF @s_sommaruga s’engage à ce que des règles ambitieuses soient adoptées pour tous les États lors de la @COP26 en novembre.https://t.co/v9EEzz8zw4 pic.twitter.com/DNNTBenwsF
— DETEC - UVEK - DATEC (@UVEK_DETEC) May 7, 2021
Tweets relating to the discussions from March to May 2021
17 May 2021, Discussion with EU Vice-President Frans Timmermans
Habe heute mit dem EU-Vizepräsidenten @TimmermansEU per Skype gesprochen. Die EU – unsere wichtigste Handelspartnerin – hat sich, wie auch die Schweiz, für die Weltklimakonferenz #COP26 ehrgeizige Ziele gesetzt. #OnTheWayToGlasgow pic.twitter.com/61S4cn7frq
— Simonetta Sommaruga (@s_sommaruga) May 17, 2021
4 May 2021, Meeting of environment ministers of German-speaking countries
Les ministres de l’environnement de 🇦🇹, 🇩🇪, 🇱🇮, 🇱🇺 et 🇨🇭 ont abordé changements climatiques, biodiversité et relance verte post-pandémie. Elles œuvrent pour des accords mondiaux sur la protection du climat et de la diversité des espèces et des habitats. https://t.co/qi7eVqcNkZ pic.twitter.com/sF85eu5T2P
— DETEC - UVEK - DATEC (@UVEK_DETEC) May 4, 2021
29 April 2021, Discussion with Environment Minister Barbara Creecy (South Africa)
Sprach heute mit Südafrikas Umweltministerin @BarbaraCreecy_ über die Weltklimakonferenz im November. Wir beide wollen, dass die #COP26 ein Erfolg wird, und wir haben vereinbart, dass wir eng zusammenarbeiten. Denn in Glasgow müssen wir einen grossen Schritt weiterkommen. pic.twitter.com/Bj1E2CV7Um
— Simonetta Sommaruga (@s_sommaruga) April 29, 2021
23 April 2021, Roundtable Talks
À l’invitation de John Kerry, envoyé spécial des États-Unis pour le climat, @s_sommaruga a participé aujourd’hui à une table ronde. La conseillère fédérale se félicite du nouvel objectif climatique américain. Communiqué de presse: https://t.co/c5cIi2nWLV pic.twitter.com/0iwn7Fs6DT
— DETEC - UVEK - DATEC (@UVEK_DETEC) April 23, 2021
26 March 2021, Discussion with Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (Germany)
«Pour @SvenjaSchulze68, ministre 🇩🇪 de l’environnement, et moi, le succès de la conférence sur le climat @COP26 de Glasgow implique de nous mettre maintenant au travail, avec en mai la rencontre des ministres de l’environnement lors du Dialogue de Petersberg sur le climat.» https://t.co/ZPuJdvvbhZ
— DETEC - UVEK - DATEC (@UVEK_DETEC) March 26, 2021
23 March 2021, Ministerial on Climate Action
Préparatifs de la conférence sur le climat #COP26 à Glasgow, sur invitation du 🇨🇦, de la 🇨🇳 et de l’🇪🇺. « Le monde attend de nous que nous trouvions des solutions lors de la COP26 en novembre. Nous devons donc nous mettre à l’ouvrage dès maintenant. », a dit la CF @s_sommaruga pic.twitter.com/5vtUGtlV3Z
— DETEC - UVEK - DATEC (@UVEK_DETEC) March 23, 2021
17 March 2021, Discussion with Environment Minister Andrea Meza (Costa Rica)
«Préparatifs de la conférence sur le climat #COP26 à Glasgow en novembre. Entretiens avec différentes ministres, hier avec Andrea Meza, en charge de l’environnement et de l’énergie au Costa Rica. Notre but : des règles claires et strictes pour la #ProtectionDuClimat. @COP26» https://t.co/WbXts9ldYW
— DETEC - UVEK - DATEC (@UVEK_DETEC) March 17, 2021
