Swiss Minister for Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication, Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard will travel to India from October 18-20, 2012 to represent Switzerland at the UN Conference on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad. The head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (DETEC) is also slated to meet members of the Indian government in Delhi.

Two years after the adoption of the Strategic Plan 2011 - 2020 and the Nagoya Protocol, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity are taking stock in Hyderabad of the results achieved so far. The aim is to assess progress on implementation of the decisions adopted in 2010 when the international community set itself the goal of taking urgent and effective action to halt the loss of biodiversity. It will also examine how the new instruments intended to achieve this goal – the Strategic Plan and the Protocol – have been implemented.

While attending the High Level Segment on 18 October, Federal Councillor Leuthard will call for an interim report on the implementation of the strategic plan to be presented at the conference in 2016 at the latest. Leuthard will also urge that a clear outline be produced of the financial resources required to protect biodiversity. Together with other industrialised nations, Switzerland wants to see innovative financing models incorporated so as to mobilise the private sector in particular.

Following the conference, the head of DETEC will foster bilateral relations during her stay in India. She will meet members of the Indian government in Delhi including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy; C P Joshi, Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Kamal Nath, Minister of Urban Development.

The visiting dignitary will be accompanied by a small delegation from the energy and transport sectors. Meetings are set to take place with Indian representatives from these two sectors.