Greenpeace: Switzerland is becoming increasingly untrustworthy
On November 6, 2022, the 27th climate conference started in Sharm El Sheikh. According to Greenpeace, the conference is marked by the ignorance of countries like Switzerland, which are partly responsible for the fact that after 27 climate conferences, emissions that destabilize the climate are still increasing.
In order for COP27 to actually help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, Greenpeace says Switzerland and the other rich countries urgently need to improve their largely inadequate climate strategies and take responsibility. They must commit to adequately finance the management of losses and damages caused by climate disasters, the environmental organization further demands. It also needs commitments to financially support low-income countries in adapting to the consequences of climate change and strengthening their resilience.
"Despite the climate extremes of the past months that brought death and destruction, despite recent findings that clearly show that dangerous tipping points are likely to be triggered from a global warming of 1.5°C, Switzerland persists in its largely inadequate position," says Georg Klingler, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Switzerland.
Greenpeace pillories Switzerland
International analyses comparing the climate protection efforts of individual countries would clearly show the shortcomings of Swiss climate policy, Greenpeace writes in a media release. In particular, the following points are denounced:
- Switzerland has failed to meet its climate protection commitments for 2020 and is no better off for 2030: If all countries were to follow Switzerland's ambitions, the planet would heat up by up to 3°C compared to pre-industrial levels. This would put the future of humanity at risk.
- Instead of a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, Switzerland would have to achieve at least 61 percent domestically compared to 1990 levels. This is without offsetting emission reductions achieved in other countries. Such reductions would have to be achieved in addition to the domestic target and, in total, would lead to Switzerland reducing more emissions by 2030 than it emitted in 1990.
- The regulation of financial flows remains a huge problem. Seven years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, Switzerland would still lack binding requirements to reduce the global climate damage caused by the financial center and thus also by the Swiss National Bank. The Swiss financial center is currently fuelling global warming of 4°C, he said. According to the environmental organization, corrective action must be taken quickly, as the Swiss financial center is Switzerland's biggest climate protection lever.
- Switzerland's position on financing climate-friendly development and climate damage in countries that have contributed comparatively little to climate warming in the past also leaves much to be desired. Instead of providing new funds to solve the globally threatening problem and to alleviate suffering, funds from development cooperation would be reallocated and made to look good with private loans.
COP27 with low expectations
The environmental organization Greenpeace itself is present at the conference with an international delegation. Its representatives are committed to making progress with regard to climate justice and maintaining a maximum global warming of 1.5°C. According to Expert assessment the results of the COP27 are again likely to be modest. It seems that the agenda of many industrialized countries is currently dictated more by the Ukraine war than by a global climate crisis.
