▷ Liechtenstein and the ICRC jointly strengthen climate and environmental protection
17.01.2022 – 17:05
Principality of Liechtenstein
Vaduz (ots)
On Monday, January 17th, Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Liechtenstein. The highlight of the visit was an internationally broadcast event together with government councilor Dominique Hasler, at which Liechtenstein and the ICRC launched a new fund entitled “ICRC Transition Fund for Climate and Environment”. The innovative fund is intended to help the ICRC, among other things, to save 140,000 tons of CO2 and 30-50 million Swiss francs in energy costs.
The public event in Vaduz is marked by the many crises and conflicts on the planet and the effects of climate change on the situation of people living in conflict situations. Government Councilor Dominique Hasler, ICRC President Peter Maurer and Ambassador Manuel Bessler, Head of Humanitarian Aid at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), pointed out the number of people living in emergency situations, which has been increasing for years. “Currently, more than 274 million people – more than 3 percent of the world’s population – are dependent on humanitarian aid. For comparison: at the beginning of 2021 it was 235 million people; and the year before 167 million. The development is obviously going in the wrong direction. We need a trend reversal!” stressed Councilor Hasler in her speech. The speakers agreed that climate change will rapidly increase these numbers. A trend reversal can only be achieved if we manage to curb climate change.
Everyone must make their contribution to this – humanitarian actors such as the ICRC also have a responsibility. With their relief efforts, they cause greenhouse gas emissions and thus pollute the environment. In most cases, however, humanitarian organizations lack the financial means to finance the conversion from fossil fuels (eg diesel generators) to renewable energies. The new ICRC Transition Fund for climate and environment (ICRC Climate and Environment Transition Fund, CETF), which the ICRC developed with the significant cooperation of Liechtenstein, offers a way out. In a first phase, this new fund aims to switch the ICRC’s premises in 7 states from diesel generators to solar power – in places where emissions are currently highest. These are currently located in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen. This means that within 20 years around 140,000 tons of CO2 and around 30 to 50 million
francs can be saved in energy costs. This contributes to climate protection and also helps the ICRC to focus even more on its humanitarian work.
Liechtenstein was the first state to decide to contribute to the new fund and will contribute a total of CHF 600,000 to the fund in the years 2022-2024. The fund is open to contributions from both governments and private individuals. Government Councilor Hasler also invited private actors from Liechtenstein to make a contribution to the event. In addition to Liechtenstein, Switzerland has already decided to support the fund financially.
In the run-up to the event, ICRC President Maurer was received at Vaduz Castle by the hereditary prince couple for an exchange. This was followed by a working meeting with Government Councilor Hasler, which focused on overcoming the current crisis and the current and forthcoming cooperation between Liechtenstein and the ICRC.
Press contact:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport
Panagiotis Potolidis-Beck, Head of Economics and Development Department, Office of Foreign Affairs
T +423 236 60 51