International Projects

Project Description

Climate change knows no borders. While local action is essential to addressing the problem, global agreements are also needed. We are convinced that young people should have a voice in international environmental policy. This is why SYFC has been continuously involved in the international negotiation process of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) since 2015 by participating in every COP (Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC—the world's largest climate change conference) and COY (Conference of Youth—a smaller conference that precedes COPs). We believe that the civil society, including both NGOs and ordinary citizens are fundamental actors of change. Our COP delegation collaborates with other civil society organizations to advocate for the sustainable society we aspire to.

As part of YOUNGO (YOUth Non-Governmental Organizations, an observer constituency of the UNFCCC) and CAN (Climate Action Network), we develop proposals and lobby national delegations. The exchanges between future leaders that these collaborations enable are key to ensuring that the climate debate remains focused and  achieves the goals of the Paris Agreement. We believe that young people in Switzerland must contribute to this debate and that we have the potential to be an important player in it.

Furthermore, we believe it is essential that young people have a direct and peer-managed information channel to follow the progress of international debates. Because we will always be confronted anew with decisions that have differential impacts on the climate future. In order to make the best possible decisions for all our futures, we must be properly informed. That is why our delegation communicates its activities at each COP, which we relay to all of our members. 

We rely on our members, and especially, you to spread the message in Switzerland and beyond! We must organize events before and during COP, but also build a receptive base, as well as publicize our actions through the media. Are you interested in putting together an event for COP or in being our reporter? Do you have media contacts or are you a social media fan? Contact us and bring your voice to the debate!

Conference of the Parties

The next COP will be in the Emirates in December 2023. We are currently building our team for COP28, so if you are interested in joining, please contact Miklós at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Official UNFCCC website: https://unfccc.int/

Read our main takeaways from COP27 if you want to know more about what we did in November 2023 in Sharm-el-Sheik.

Bonn Climate Change Conference

Every year, the Parties gather at the UNFCCC headquarters in Bonn to discuss the topic of climate change and prepare the up coming COP. The next session (SB58) will be held in June 2023. We are currently building our team for SB58, so if you are interested in joining, please contact Miklós at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Official UNFCCC SB website: https://unfccc.int/SB56

SYFC COP28 Positions

In general

Closing the Emission Gap 

  • With current NDCs, the Climate Action Tracker projects that total global emissions would be 52-55 GtCO2e in 2025 and 54-58 GtCO2e in 2030, significantly above present emissions of about 50 GtCO2e. Estimation of the emissions gap at 14-17 GtCO2e in 2025, growing to about 22-26 GtCO2e in 2030 compared to 2°C target. 
  • For the last NDC mandatory update at COP26 : 128 countries have submitted new NDC targets. But since 2022, 157 Countries have not updated target, and only 5 countries submitted stronger NDC target 

Closing the Adaptation Gap 

  • The AGR 2023 estimates that the plausible central adaptation finance gap for developing countries is currently in the range of US$194-366 billion per year. Adaptation finance needs are 10–18 times as great as current international public adaptation finance flows – at least 50% higher than previously estimated. Achieving the goal of doubling adaptation finance (by 2025) would reduce the gap by between 5-10%.
  • 15% of Parties still do not have a national adaptation planning instrument, and the rate of increase dropped from 4 per cent to 1 per cent in 2022. While half of the 29 countries without any such instrument are in the process of developing one, most of them are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts, and more must be done to support them to close the remaining gap faster.

On the Global Stocktake 

  • Parties should engage in a global, equitable, and socially just fossil fuel phase-out before 2050, including an immediate stop on fossil fuel expansion and development, as well as phasing out all fossil fuels and environmentally harmful subsidies, and an absolute respect of the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities principle. Parties should also acknowledge the fact that natural gas is also a fossil fuel source which we need to transition away from and exclude all false solutions and related technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage, nuclear energy or solar radiation modification.
  • Parties should establish plans for food systems transformation (food loss and waste, accelerate the shift towards healthy and sustainable diets and nutrition) and ensure that those are embedded in their 2030 NDCs and next develop 2035 NDCs, National Adaptation Plans and Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). Also, Finance should be channeled to support sustainable food production practices and smallholder farmers.

On Climate Finance

  • Urge the Parties to find a consensus on the climate finance definition, which  is crucial to take effective stock of the financial flows and prevent greenwashing, 
  • Address the debt crisis of developing countries by debt cancellation and increasing grants and highly concessional finance.
  • Urge a roadmap and ambitious timeline on how to achieve Art. 2.1c, including an immediate stop of fossil fuels investments and subsidies, and a transformation of the International Financial Architecture (IFA)
  • Meet the USD 600 Billion goal climate finance total provisions before 2025
  • Ambtious New Collective Quantified Goal:
    • Finance under the NCQG must be predictable, based on an operational climate finance definition of the SCF and the best available science, consider accumulated annual pledges, and be accessible to developing countries and vulnerable communities needs. Drastically increased gants-based and highly concessional public finance is crucial to address the needs. 
    • Mobilize additional and innovative sources of finance, including private sources (e.g. maritime/aviation, transactions, and carbon-tax; progressive pollution levies). The NCQG must include subgoals to ensure balanced finance for Mitigation, Adaptation andL&D.

On Mitigation & Just Transition

Mitigation Work Program

  • Acknowledging the relevance of the 1.5° C target with a peak before 2025 and the urgency of avoiding an overshoot, with a fair, fast, full, and funded fossil fuel phase out in all sectors.
  • Ensure that all countries include non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, in their updated NDCs and sectoral mitigation plans where feasible.
  • Mobilize the additional USD 3 trillion needed annually and worldwide by 2030 and beyond.

Renewable Energies Target

  • Quadruple total installed renewable energy generation capacity to 15TW in 2030 with a focus on wind, solar and geothermal. Replacement with 100% renewables for energy and industrial processes in a just way by 2050 latest while historically and presently large and rich polluters have to move earlier.
  • Provide enough renewable energy services for all and overcome dire energy poverty in the Global South 

Energy Efficiency Target

  • Reduce total final energy demand by at least -25% by 2050. Implement energy efficiency by both decreasing energy intensity and reducing wasteful energy demand. All that, in an equitable way.

On Adaptation

  • Find common landing zones regarding the Global Goal on Adaptation; Emphasising Decision 3/CMA.4, which recalls Decision 7/CMA.3, Para 7, that includes the objectives of the work programme of the GGA;
    • Parties must find agreement on the thematic targets proposed by AOSIS and compromise if possible, include Means of Implementation and mainstream finance either through specific mentioning or targets, establish the GGA as a permanent agenda item and consider linkages with other negotiated items especially the NCQG, Article 2.1c, and the GST. 
  • Develop National Adaptation Plans with a focus on interconnection and inclusivity; Recalling Decision 9/CP.27, Paras 6–9, that encourages collaboration between the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group for National Adaptation Plans.

On Loss & Damage

  • Independence and Fair Representation: The Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund should be established as an independent operating entity, serving both COP/CMA. Its board should be comprised primarily of members from developing countries, maintain gender balance, and include accredited observers
  • Financing: The Fund should determine that the primary financial contributions should come from developed countries. It should recognize that all developing countries most vulnerable to climate change are eligible to receive support. The Fund should also provide for the set up of timely, flexible, predictable, multi-year funding support for both rapid-onset and slow-onset impacts, enabling affected individuals and communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. 

 

For Switzerland

Improving Switzerland's full & domestic NDCs

  • If all countries were to follow Switzerland’s current policies, warming would reach over 2°C and up to 3°C
  • The removal of a clear domestic emissions reduction component in Switzerland's 2030 NDC target is highly problematic. Switzerland should commit to a transparent domestic emissions reduction component as part of its 2030 NDC target and set specific emission reduction targets for various sectors of the economy.
  • Switzerland should first aim for deep reductions domestically and support developing countries through climate finance, unconditional to receiving “carbon credits” which it can count against its targets.
  • Switzerland is also not meeting its fair-share contributions to climate change mitigation, and in addition to strengthening its targets and policies, and needs to provide additional support to others.