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Switzerland's contribution to UN climate deal comes first

Xinhua, February 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Switzerland became the first country to submit its intended contribution to a new global climate deal to the United Nations(UN) on Friday.

According to the submission posted on the website of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Switzerland pledged to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 50 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

The target would be achieved through domestic emission cutting efforts and international mechanisms such as carbon trading, Switzerland said.

The submission came well in advance of a new universal climate agreement to be inked in Paris in December, Bonn-based UNFCCC Secretariat said in a statement.

"Switzerland is today demonstrating leadership, commitment and its support towards a successful outcome in Paris in 10 months' time. It is the first but will not be the last," said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, adding that she looked forward more parties to submit their pledges "over the coming weeks and months".

The new global climate deal was scheduled to be passed at the end of 2015 in Paris and come into force in 2020.

Countries were asked to formally submit to the UN their contribution to the deal before October this year. The deadline for those who are "ready to do so " were set at the end of March. Endit