Switzerland urges more support for UN climate change panel
View over the Aletsch Glacier - the largest in the Alps - in September 2017. By 2090, the surface of the glacier could shrivel from 118 square kilometres (2010) to 35km2, warns the Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU)
Keystone
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the main United Nations scientific body for assessing climate change, is a key organisation that needs greater support, a Swiss official told a celebration in Geneva on Thursday to mark the body’s 30th anniversary.
This content was published on
2 minutes
ATS-SDA/sb
“We make full use of the work of the IPCC in our climate policy,” said Paola Ceresetti, spokeswoman for the Swiss Mission to the UN in Geneva, speaking on behalf of ambassador Valentin Zellweger.
The IPCCExternal link was established by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide a scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential impacts. It has provided five comprehensive assessment reports and other special reports since its creation.
On Thursday, alphorn players welcomed attendees to the Swiss-organised celebration in Geneva, home to the IPCC, alongside representatives from the Geneva authorities, governments, the WMO, which hosts the IPCC secretariat, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
In her speech, Ceresetti urged states to increase support to climate research to “fill the data gaps”, adding that the IPCC “produces very valuable reports at a very low cost”.
IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee thanked Switzerland for its support. The Alpine nation gives CHF 100,000 a year to the organisation.
Paris accord
The Paris climate agreement, adopted by almost 200 nations in 2015, set a goal of limiting warming to “well below” a rise of 2°C above pre-industrial times while “pursuing efforts” for the tougher 1.5°C goal.
However, a draft of an upcoming IPCC special report on global warming, obtained by Reuters, warns: “If emissions continue at their present rate, human-induced warming will exceed 1.5°C by around 2040.”
The IPCC text, dated June 4, is due for publication in October after revisions and approval by governments and will form the main scientific guide for states for combating climate change.
To contribute towards the international goal of limiting global warming to 2°C, Switzerland intends to reduce its domestic greenhouse gasses by at least 20% in comparison to their 1990 level by 2020, among other measures.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
This content was published on
There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
This content was published on
A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
Heatwave reduces output at Swiss nuclear power plant by 50%
This content was published on
The ongoing heatwave has forced the Beznau nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the River Aare, to halve its output.
Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows
This content was published on
Opportunities for upward social mobility have remained intact in Switzerland since the 1980s. Social mobility is exceptionally high by international comparison, a study shows.
Swiss government affected by cyberattack on health foundation
This content was published on
Switzerland says a ransomware attack on the non-profit health foundation Radix that involved data being stolen and encrypted had also affected the federal administration.
Federal Council agrees to investigation into alleged Swiss-Russian spying affair
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland can open spying investigations into the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
Appeal launched against Starlink satellite antennae project planned in Swiss village
This content was published on
A group of Swiss citizens has filed an appeal against plans to install 40 Starlink satellite antennae in the mountain village of Leuk in southern Switzerland.
UBS launches buyback scheme for up to $2 billion in shares
This content was published on
UBS is starting a share buyback programme for up to $2 billion (CHF1.6 billion) in shares, in line with a plan approved at its annual general meeting (AGM) in April, the Swiss bank said on Monday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
How the Alps inform polar research
This content was published on
Switzerland might seem an odd place for a summit on polar studies. But with its high mountains, it is part of the “third pole” after North and South.
Most glaciers in central Switzerland to disappear by 2090
This content was published on
The vast majority of glaciers in central Switzerland will have totally disappeared by the end of the 21st century, a study has revealed.
This content was published on
A detailed pollExternal link, commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation – swissinfo.ch’s parent company – found 85% of respondents acknowledging global warming as a fact, while 14% said they were not entirely convinced. One percent denied it outright. Most respondents recognise that melting glaciers and rockslides are a consequence of the warmer climate in Switzerland…
Climate researcher awarded top Swiss science prize
This content was published on
Stocker, a professor at the University of Bern, began his research into climatology in the late 1980s. His teams have drilled ice in Greenland and Antarctica to determine to determine greenhouse gas concentrations dating back 800,000 years. Using theoretical modelling techniques, he discovered that there is a close connection between changes in ocean currents and…
This content was published on
Switzerland’s essential alpine character stands little chance of surviving predicted man-made global warming, even if the Paris agreement succeeds.
This content was published on
The United Nations weather agency, which is home to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s top scientific authority on global warming, says it is likely that the world has now warmed by 1°C over pre-industrial times. More carbon emissions bring rising temperatures, changing seasons, higher sea levels and more frequent catastrophic weather events.…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.