On the sidelines of the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, Tunisia and Switzerland signed, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, a bilateral agreement on climate protection.
This agreement creates the framework conditions that will allow the realization in Tunisia of projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions financed by Switzerland. The two countries are thus joining forces to fight climate change. And this, while further enriching their intense bilateral relations, by extending their cooperation to the field of climate protection.
Thus, on the sidelines of the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) which takes place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, Tunisia, and Switzerland signed in the same day an agreement creating the framework conditions which will allow the Swiss private sector to finance concrete projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Tunisia.
Therefore, Federal Councilor Albert Rösti, Head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), and Minister of the Environment Leila Chikhaoui signed the agreement, respectively on behalf of Switzerland and Tunisia.
In this regard, note that by ratifying the Paris Agreement in 2017, Switzerland committed to taking concrete measures to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (compared to the 1990 level); and thus contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Under the Paris Agreement, emissions reductions made abroad can be attributed to achieving such targets. This is as long as they meet strict requirements in terms of environmental protection and contribute to sustainable development. The bilateral agreement concluded today between Switzerland and Tunisia makes this opportunity a reality by creating the conditions for Swiss financial support for decarbonization projects in Tunisia.
“The signing of this bilateral agreement concretizes the international commitments of Switzerland and Tunisia in the fight against climate change. The two countries are working together to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions; while consolidating and enriching their intense bilateral relations. This win-win agreement thus gives a new dimension to our long-standing bilateral relations with Tunisia,” rejoiced Josef Renggli, Swiss Ambassador to Tunisia, on the occasion of the signing of this new bilateral agreement.
