President Cassis and Federal Councillor Sommaruga to attend UN COP27 Climate Conference

Bern, 04.11.2022 - President Ignazio Cassis and Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga will represent Switzerland at the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which will take place in Sharm el-Sheik (Egypt) from 7 to 18 November. The key topic of the conference is how to achieve the existing goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. This requires an effective work programme for climate protection that places the onus on the countries and sectors with the highest emissions. Switzerland will also push for global investment in climate protection at COP27.

The main aim of COP27 will be to define rules to implement the Paris Agreement. One of the main themes of the conference will be to consider ways in which countries can implement the climate targets submitted under the Paris Agreement by 2030 so that the 1.5-degree target can be met. A further theme is to examine how countries can better adapt to the consequences of climate change. There are also plans to adopt implementation rules for the market mechanism adopted at COP26. The mechanism allows countries to implement climate protection projects abroad and have the emission reductions achieved credited to their own climate target.

Also on the agenda are talks on a new joint financing target to support climate protection measures in developing countries for the period after 2025, so as to find ways of supporting developing countries in their efforts to adapt and help them deal with loss and damage caused by climate change.

Switzerland advocates an effective work programme on climate protection


At COP27, Switzerland will advocate for an effective work programme that leads to firm decisions on climate protection and focuses on the countries and sectors with the highest emissions. Switzerland is also committed to strengthening investment in climate protection worldwide and to providing support to all countries that are in a position to do so. The private sector should also participate and financial flows should be geared towards respect for the environment.

President Cassis will deliver a speech at the high-level opening event on Monday, 7 November, and take part in a discussion on food security and climate. He will also open the pavilion of the Swiss-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce.

Federal Councillor Sommaruga is expected to travel to the conference on 16 November. There, together with the environment ministers of the other countries, she will participate in negotiations at ministerial level and take part in the conference decision-making process. Ms Sommaruga will also chair the Environmental Integrity Group (Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, South Korea, Switzerland), which is chaired by Switzerland.

On Friday 4 November, President Ignazio Cassis will travel to Greece, where he will open the Trilateral Commission European Meeting together with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. In Athens, personalities from the worlds of business, politics and academia will discuss current issues in world politics.

President Cassis will then travel on to the United Arab Emirates, where he will take part in the high-level security forum "Sir Bani Yas" on Sunday 6 November. The "Sir Bani Yas Forum" is an important platform for dialogue to promote peace, security and stability in the Middle East. Ignazio Cassis will be accompanied on his trip by National Councillor Maja Riniker (FDP/AG) and National Councillor Marco Romano (Die Mitte/TI).


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General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC
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