This is the second agreement of its kind worldwide under the Paris Climate Accords (Paris Agreement). Switzerland concluded a similar agreement with Peru on 20 October 2020. For the President of the Swiss, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, with this agreement Switzerland is assuming its responsibility in international climate policy and is also making a contribution to human rights.

Under the Paris Agreement, Switzerland has committed itself to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Switzerland will achieve this goal primarily through domestic measures. The Paris Convention also allows countries to reduce their own emissions through climate projects abroad. The emission reductions achieved abroad can be credited to their national reduction target.

After Switzerland concluded the world's first agreement of this kind with Peru in October 2020, a similar agreement was sealed today with Ghana. Ghana's Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Philipp Stalder, signed the agreement during a video conference. President Simonetta Sommaruga witnessed the signing ceremony via video conference from Bern. Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng was also present at the ceremony in Accra.

For further enquiries, please contact:

George Korang, Media Liaison, Embassy of Switzerland in Accra

Email: George-appiah.korang@eda.admin.ch

Phone: +233 302228125 ext. 844 627

Please find a full press release on the event here (PDF, 1 Pagina, 227.2 kB, inglese), also in French (PDF, 2 Pagine, 300.8 kB, francese) and German (PDF, 2 Pagine, 300.7 kB, tedesco)