Switzerland – key statements
Date:
4 November 2022
March 2023
24/3/23
- Switzerland favors UNCLOS Art. 145 that obliges Council to shape the rules on deep-sea mining in such a way that the marine environment is effectively protected from harmful impacts.
- Exploitation should not occur before approval of rules, regulations and procedures and accompanying institutional arrangements.
22/3/23
- Raised their support for binding elements and binding standards and guidelines for environmental impact assessments.
- Called for the environmental impact assessment process to be re-structured.
- Called for detailed account of knowledge of the biological environment its ecosystem functions and services, its fauna and flora, as well as communities composition and structure in the site and impact areas and so on in regulations
20/3/23
- The delegation highlighted the importance of coherence and consistency with the BBNJ treaty
16/3/23
- Warned that we are in a triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity and pollution and that the ISA needs to act on behalf of mankind and ensure the protection of the marine environment from harmful activities
- We are evaluating our position, but we are of the view that exploitation should not take place without the adequate framework to ensure the protection of the marine environment.
October/November 2022
4/11/22
- Switzerland stated that with climate, biodiversity loss and pollution, the mandate to protect the marine environment is crucial. Most of the potentially affected ecosystems have not been mapped or studied. Switzerland supports more research to learn more about these areas in order to effectively develop regulations. Switzerland calls for the precautionary approach and regulations and institutional arrangements are required to meet obligations under article 145 of the convention.
