Federal Councilor Leuthard defends the sustainability of Switzerland in New York

Environment Minister Doris Leuthard on Tuesday defended the United Nations Forum on Sustainable Development in New York's assessment of Switzerland. Specifically, it addresses the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are summarized in the 2030 Agenda. The June Report of the Federal Council in the form of a first national report had already attracted criticism from the United States. non-governmental organizations – in particular the "Agenda Agenda 2030" which brings together some forty organizations on the environment, development cooperation and human rights. She called the Federal Council's report superficial and fairy. The disgust also ensured that Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis managed to keep the country's report with 28 pages relatively close. However, the Federal Council also published the 86-page inventory, which also reflects the critical analyzes of representatives of civil society.

Minister of Environment Doris Leuthard. (Image: Anthony Anex / Keystone)

In his speech, Leuthard highlighted the successes of Switzerland. It even resorted to the year 1876, when Switzerland had promulgated the first forest law, considered internationally as exemplary. And she positively emphasized that Switzerland was on the right track in several areas, such as health, energy and sustainable economic development. In the meantime, she mentioned as a challenge the fact that, although the consumption of domestic resources by the population is decreasing, the consumption of foreign resources is increasing in an "unsustainable" way. Leuthard has granted a personal note for the purpose of gender equality. Although the survey shows a positive evolution, she stressed that she needed additional efforts to achieve equal pay.

Overall, according to the survey, Switzerland shows a positive trend in 39 of the 85 indicators assigned to the objectives. No significant developments were found for 12 indicators, 14 negative for the trend and 20 for no evaluation.