Switzerland and Brazil to cooperate on environmental protection

Swiss Economics Minister Pascal Couchepin agreed Tuesday to support Brazil in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Couchepin signed the accord during a weeklong visit to the Latin American nation.

Swiss Economics Minister Pascal Couchepin agreed Tuesday to support Brazil in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Couchepin signed the accord during a weeklong visit to the Latin American nation.

The Swiss State Secretariat for Business Affairs (seco) said Wednesday that, under the agreement, Brazil would receive support to carry out a study. Switzerland will contribute up to $450,000 as well as experts for the study, which would set out priorities in the reduction of greenhouse gases as prescribed by the 1997 Kyoto environment conference.

The Kyoto protocol – which has not yet been ratified – requires industrialised nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by five percent of what they were in 1990. The reductions should take place by 2008/2012.

Couchepin also signed a separate declaration of intent to help build a centre for environmental technology in Sao Paulo.

The centre would provide training for local companies to try and reduce pollution generated by industry, said Jörg Reding of the Swiss delegation accompanying Couchepin in Brazil. Switzerland will provide technical support as well as the costs of running the centre over a period of five years.

Reding added that there were plans to establish a second centre in northeastern Brazil.


Source: sda-ats, APD