Swiss map out Rio+20 goals

Switzerland has outlined key issues it says must feature in a green economy roadmap being debated at the Rio+20 conference this summer.

The cabinet approved on Friday its mandate for the United Nations conference, saying it hopes to see a “green economy roadmap” drawn up, setting out goals for sustainable development and the concrete measures to attain them.

To support the roadmap, the government says national action plans are needed and deadlines also need to be set.

Switzerland will also push for the roadmap to tackle better resource efficiency, to take into account the sustainable development of big industry, promotion of sustainable products, and the gradual withdrawal of subsidies for fossil fuels.

Switzerland will also back moves to reform the institutions on sustainable development that were established after previous major international development conferences. It also wants to see civil society more deeply involved in the debate on how to implement a sustainability policy.

Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainability, takes place in Rio de Janeiro from 20-22 June.