Conference of the Parties (COP27): President of the Swiss Confederation urges international community to keep 1.5°C target in sight

Conference of the Parties (COP27): President of the Swiss Confederation urges international community to keep 1.5°C target in sight

President Ignazio Cassis has represented Switzerland at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. During his speech, Mr Cassis stated that this year's edition must not be the one to abandon the 1.5°C target. The conference’s aim is to promote implementation of the Paris climate agreement.

During his speech at the summit, which was opened on 7 November 2022 and attended by around 100 heads of state and government, Mr Cassis strongly emphasised the fact that climate change remains one of the greatest challenges of our time.

Mr Cassis, who is also head of the FDFA, went on to state that "climate change has left a particularly devastating legacy this year" in reference to the floods in Pakistan as well as heatwaves and droughts in several parts of the world. He added that Switzerland would therefore continue to maintain its climate targets, despite the current energy crisis. Switzerland is committed to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest.

Mr Cassis also lent his support to the ambitious commitments of the COP27 agenda, which includes a clear and concrete timetable for all states to divest from fossil fuels. In