Deiss to UN, Cuche Rib, Swiss Climate Targets
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 22:23
If all goes as expected, former Swiss cabinet minister Joseph Deiss will become the next president of the United Nations General Assembly. Deiss was chosen as the official candidate for the office of president for the 65th General Assembly by the western regional group of nations, whose turn it was to pick the next head.
Deiss, who was chosen over Belgium s Louis Michel, a former European Commissioner, recently told La Liberté newspaper that he sees this as a chance to show that Switzerland is ready to commit itself to play its full role as a UN member and actor in global public life. The recent Swiss referendum banning minarets is not thought to be an obstacle to Deiss election but will likely focus more international attention on the controversy.
The Swiss cabinet first put forward Deiss’ candidacy in September. The UN General Assembly will hold the official election in spring 2010.
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Swiss ski champion Didier Cuche announced yesterday that he competed over the weekend with a broken rib in a tournament at Val d’Isère. In breaking the news on his website, he shared that the injury may force him out of this weekend’s World Cup ski races.
Cuche was quoted as saying the injury, which occurred during training, is rather embarrassing but not serious. After the crash, he competed in the super combined and super-G races but the pain forced him out of Sunday’s giant slalom race.
Cuche, who leads the World Cup downhill standings, said he would travel to Val Gardena and would decide there whether he is able to compete.
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And finally….With climate talks underway in Copenhagen , Switzerland says it can meet its targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A Federal Environment Office report released yesterday in Copenhagen outlines how Switzerland will meet its obligations of reducing greenhouse gases by eight per cent by 2012. The report says that Switzerland will need to rely on use of carbon sinks as well as purchase international emissions certificates.
In 2007, which was the year before Switzerland s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol went into effect, 51 million tons of greenhouse gases - or nearly 7 tons per Swiss citizen were released in Switzerland . By 2020, Switzerland has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent compared with 1990 levels.