UN Climate Summit 2014
Bern, 23.09.2014 - Statement by Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, New York, September 23, 2014
Mr. Secretary General, excellencies, dear colleagues
We walked - hundreds of miles.
We talked - for hundreds of hours.
But what have we changed globally? Unfortunately, not enough!
Global carbon emissions rose to a new record in 2013 - 39.683 billion tons.
The IPCC-Report is clear, we have to act - immediately!
- Because the time we have to act is getting increasingly shorter.
- Because climate change needs a global solution and global engagement.
- Because the negative impact of climate change is getting irreversible and the costs become higher.
We need a vision, political will and tools which are translated into commitments and actions.
The vision of a carbon neutral future is broadly shared.
Political will to use the necessary tools and policies to realize the vision is crucial. In order to generate and strengthen this political will, we need the assurance that each and everyone is ready to make their fair contribution. The Climate Conference in Paris must be the moment to adopt and formalize binding commitments.
The instruments are available: we can reduce the CO2 emissions from industry, traffic, buildings, agriculture and forestry with renewable energy production, the green economy, smart technology, carbon neutral public transportation and increasing energy efficiency in buildings.
- Internationally, we support policies such as giving carbon a price and reducing fossil fuel subsidies.
- Nationally, we have already successfully introduced carbon pricing, and in Parliament, a new bill to increase energy efficiency and to push renewable energy is on the way.
Ladies and gentlemen, look at the Swiss pioneers Piccard and Borschberg - if they are able to fly around the world in an airplane powered only by solar energy, this is sufficient proof that we have the tools for a carbon-neutral future. And most importantly, these tools will not prevent us from raising the living standard in developing countries towards well-being and prosperity.
Mutual assurance, political will and commitment are not triggered by blaming others for insufficient ambition - this is not the right approach - but by signaling a willingness to act.
Switzerland, which is responsible for only 0.1% of global emissions, is committed to ambitious action. Although its GDP has risen by 36% since 1990, Switzerland reduced its emissions in the first Kyoto commitment period by 8%. And Switzerland is committed to reducing its emissions under the second Kyoto period up to 2020 by 20%. We will ratify the second Kyoto Protocol before Paris.
With regard to the post 2020 period, Switzerland is currently preparing an intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) with an ambitious mitigation objective and will submit it in the first quarter of 2015 it.
Switzerland has contributed a further 150 Mio USD to the fast-start period, taking both its capacity and its responsibility as factors to calculate its fair share of fast-start financing. Switzerland is considering a contribution to the Green Climate Fund of at least 100 Mio USD and will be ready to formally announce it at the GCF Pledging Conference in November.
Besides that, Switzerland also provides significant financial, technological and capacity support. For example, we have launched a partnership with Peru and UNIDO to promote resource-efficient industrial production in newly established eco-industrial parks and are actively engaged in the "Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reforms".
Switzerland is also supporting developing countries to develop their post 2020 commitments via the MAPS initiative on Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios Programme.
Furthermore, we will not only continue to implement urgently needed adaptation policies at home, we will also be ready to share our experience with others and support them in doing the same.
Mr. Secretary General, dear colleagues, we all need to act. Most importantly, facts and fairness require the major emitters especially to act. I therefore expect all partners, especially all major economies, to submit an ambitious INDC in the first quarter of 2015. And, I expect all those who are in a position to do so to contribute to the capitalization of the GCF.
Switzerland is ready. If all are prepared to act, and if all major economies are ready to lead, then it becomes clear that we are not only the origin and the victims of climate change, but also its solution.
Address for enquiries
Communication DETEC, +41 58 462 55 11
Publisher
General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC
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