“It is important for me to explore closely, together with the polar scientists, what we can expect in the future,” Leuthard told the Swiss News Agency ahead of the visit.
“Glaciers are melting faster than predicted, also in Switzerland. In Greenland, we can see how these changes are taking place. I want to hear from experts to understand what this means for Europe’s climate and to know what politicians can do,” Leuthard said on Monday. In addition to holding Switzerland’s annually rotating presidency, Leuthard is the nation’s environment minister.
Cooperation with Denmark
Leuthard’s Greenland visit follows a meeting in Copenhagen on Monday with Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Talks focused on bilateral relations between the two countries, collaboration with the European Union, the consequences of Britain leaving the 27-nation bloc, migration and climate policy.
Concerning the 2015 Paris climate treaty, both leaders stressed the need for ambitious emissions targets and strict rules.
The Swiss president and the Danish prime minister also discussed international cooperation on the Arctic. In May, Switzerland became an observer to the Arctic Council. The council’s members include the eight Arctic states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US, as well as representatives of indigenous peoples and specialised organisations.
On Friday Leuthard is set to attend Switzerland’s ‘national day’ at Expo 2017 in the Kazak capital, Astana. The first world exhibition to be held in central Asia is focusing on ‘future energy’ and the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies.
Switzerland commits CHF50 million to combat rural poverty worldwide
This content was published on
The Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF49.5 million ($54.1 million) for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Arrests made in raid against Turkish criminal organisation
This content was published on
A cross-border raid against a Turkish criminal organisation was conducted, including property searches in cantons Aargau and Zurich.
Up to 4,000 Swiss army soldiers to protect Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The Federal Council has authorised deployment of army personnel for the Ukraine peace conference on the Bürgenstock in June.
This content was published on
The business association, Swissmem, reports that there are increasing signs that the bottom of the downturn will be reached this year.
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
Can Swiss data help catch climate cheaters?
This content was published on
Scientists monitoring emissions from an Alpine station want international monitors to use their data, since other reporting could be flawed.
This content was published on
swissinfo caught up with him at the Swiss Camp on Greenland’s west coast, where he measures variations in the island’s ice cap with his research team from Colorado’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). “Koni”, as Steffen is known, is a true lover of nature, especially the cold and the snow. Since 1975,…
Gruesome discoveries a sign of rapidly retreating glaciers
This content was published on
The finds of human remains in the Alps are a reminder that glaciers are melting rapidly, and could disappear entirely by the end of the century.
This content was published on
“Signing this agreement is more than just a symbolic gesture. We are saying yes to a world that will gradually leave the fossil fuel era behind it,” said Leuthard. She added that Switzerland plans to ratify the Paris Agreement by the end of 2017. The environment minister called for innovation to create a green economy…
This content was published on
Following the launch of the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI), Switzerland now has a voice in global polar policy. First project: an Antarctic expedition.
This content was published on
One end of the world is melting; the other is sinking. A Swiss film director goes to extremes to show victims of climate change.
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.