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Environment and Climate Minister Albert Rösti took part in a UN climate conference in Dubai for the first time. There he called on the international community to decide in clear terms to phase out coal, oil and gas, to triple the use of renewable energy sources by 2030 and to double efficiency at the same time. These are remarkable words for the SVP Federal Councilor and former President of Swissoil – at first glance.
Federal Councilor Albert Rösti stuck to his mandate in Dubai – no less, but no more. Rösti also receives good marks from local climate protection organizations for his clear words about phasing out coal, oil and gas.
Switzerland is saying goodbye to the coalition of highly ambitious countries
At the same time, Rösti did not particularly stand out among the well over 100 ministers – unlike his predecessor Simonetta Sommaruga, who was very active in negotiating at climate conferences and also successfully led certain negotiations. Under Albert Rösti, Switzerland said goodbye to the coalition of highly ambitious countries, a group that it had been a member of since 2015 and which gave the climate negotiations additional impetus with committed joint statements in the final phase.
The aim of the Swiss Environment Minister – as he explains in an interview with SRF – is to show at the climate conference that Switzerland is already doing a lot and to ensure that other countries also get involved, especially financially. In other words: Now let the others take their turn.
Switzerland’s weak points: climate policy and climate financing
There is definitely a need for action for Switzerland too: firstly, Switzerland is already not a pioneer when it comes to climate protection. In the most recent climate ranking by the German non-governmental organization Germanwatch, it is only in a mediocre position of 21 out of 64. Switzerland’s weak points according to the experts: climate policy and climate financing. In short: Switzerland does not provide enough support to poorer countries in the fight against climate change.
Federal Councilor Rösti sees it differently: Switzerland pays its fair share, other countries have to increase, he emphasizes. And when it comes to its own climate policy, Switzerland still lacks a concrete recipe for how it wants to achieve its goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
Such a recipe could be in the CO₂ law. Parliament is currently making its third attempt to revise this. The current draft stipulates that Switzerland will reduce a third of its CO₂ emissions abroad. An idea that Albert Rösti has supported since he became a Federal Councilor. Here at the climate conference he also defends it against criticism. It doesn’t matter where in the world emissions are reduced, he says. Rather, it makes sense to reduce costs where it is easier, i.e. cheaper, than in Switzerland. To put it bluntly, this also means: Now let the others get to it.