Léman Bleu • 23rd November 2022

«Le Qatar a réussi à faire taire les critiques»

Le Qatar a utilisé la Genève internationale pour se construire une réputation en matière d’intégrité dans le sport. Ce sportwashing, c’est ce que révèle l’enquête de la journaliste Paula Dupraz-Dobias.

The New Humanitarian • 21st November 2022

COP27: Diplomatic baby steps amid mounting humanitarian crises

Climate justice played a central role at COP27, where the snail’s pace of progress on addressing the climate emergency once again stood in stark contrast to the realities on disaster front lines.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 20th November 2022

Switzerland denounces COP27 outcome

After going into a second straight night of deliberations, the climate conference ended with an agreement to set up a long sought-after fund to pay developing countries for loss and damage resulting from climate change. Switzerland has yet to confirm if it will contribute and said the overall outcome was “not good”.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 19th November 2022

Swiss pioneering carbon offsets on the stand at COP27

Switzerland is among the countries keen to push for more offsetting deals which were institutionalised during COP26 last year. But these are proving to be not only controversial, but complex, to set up.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 18th November 2022

Switzerland's measured support for new loss and damage fund at COP27

Discussions on the creation of a new loss and damage fund to compensate vulnerable countries for the huge losses incurred by climate change are at the heart of COP27. Switzerland argues existing mechanism are adequate.

The New Humanitarian • 17th November 2022

In storm-hit Puerto Rico, local communities fill US disaster response gaps

Like its Caribbean neighbours, Puerto Rico is situated in the pathway of an alphabetical carousel of annual hurricanes that leaves it increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. But unlike several of them – for instance, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley has become a leading advocate for climate justice, launching blistering attacks on rich nations and offering finance solutions – it has taken few actions to address the crisis.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 17th November 2022

War and warming planet put hunger at the heart of COP27

At a popular market in the Egyptian tourist resort hosting the latest round of United Nations climate talks, residents are feeling the strain of rising food prices. Ten kilometres to the north, conference participants, including Switzerland, are grappling with how to respond.

The New Humanitarian • 16th November 2022

A new dawn for climate financing?

For the first time in the COP summits’ nearly 30-year history, a call for climate reparations championed by the world’s most vulnerable nations has made it onto the official agenda. It’s formally called loss and damage, and it entails payouts from the developed countries (who have profited the most from burning fossil fuels) to developing countries (who are suffering the worst from the impacts of climate change). Will this notion be accepted by rich countries? Or will political realities and developed countries’ fears around liability water down its original vision?

The New Humanitarian • 15th November 2022

Loss and damage: Views from the ground

Financing for loss and damages is firmly on the agenda after years of wrangling and pushback. But the end result is far from certain as the COP27 climate summit pushes through its final week.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 10th November 2022

Sportswashing the World Cup from Geneva

Qatar chose Geneva to launch a massive public relations campaign in a bid to secure the World Cup and impose its narrative on sports. From there, the emirate could access FIFA, United Nation institutions, heads of state and diplomats. SWI swissinfo.ch investigated the links between Qatar and the Swiss city.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 3rd November 2022

Complaints against FIFA greenwashing hit Swiss advertising commission

Barely two weeks ahead of the World Cup kickoff in Qatar and just days ahead of the UN climate summit, several NGOs, including a civil society group based in Switzerland, have filed complaints with consumer protection agencies alleging that global football body FIFA has repeatedly lied about the event’s carbon neutrality.

The New Humanitarian • 5th October 2022

Brazil elections: Erosion of rights under Bolsonaro drives activism among marginalised communities

Elections in Brazil have seen belated gains in representation for marginalised and vulnerable communities that have suffered a rise in hate crimes and violence under Jair Bolsonaro. But with the presidential runoff coming on 30 October, the fight is far from over.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 26th September 2022

Gold sourcing and Switzerland in focus at the Human Rights Council

As the latest session of the Human Rights Council got underway at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, illegally-mined gold came up in multiple discussions, with the role of importers, including Switzerland, being cited in UN findings.

The New Humanitarian • 14th July 2022

Nowhere left to turn: In a region hit hard by COVID, the welcome for Venezuelan migrants wears thin

The vast majority of the 6 million Venezuelans who have escaped poverty, insecurity, and economic collapse in their homeland since 2015 have tried to start new lives in South America. But two years after COVID-19 led governments to close borders and enforce quarantines, many are discovering that the region is becoming a less welcoming place.

The New Humanitarian • 11th July 2022

What a difference a year makes (or not) in Cuba

On 11 July 2021, nationwide protests erupted in Cuba over food and medicine shortages – before being crushed by a brutal government crackdown. A year after the largest demonstrations since Fidel Castro took power in 1959, the streets of Havana are quiet, but the root causes of the protests persist: long food lines, electricity cuts, and fuel and medicine in short supply.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 23rd June 2022

Swiss press freedom under scrutiny at the United Nations

The United Nations Human Rights Council is pointing its finger at Swiss media law. Current legislation protects the banking sector from whistleblowers in the banking sector.

The New Humanitarian • 7th June 2022

Most aid funds go to just a few disasters. What about the rest?

Every year for the past two decades, an estimated 350 to 500 medium-to-large disasters have taken place globally; numbers only expected to rise further due to the climate crisis. But many, like the case studies we report on here in Peru and Nepal, receive little attention beyond the areas directly affected. As a result, the response can fall far short of what’s needed.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 5th June 2022

How Russian sanctions are permeating Switzerland’s luxury sanctum

After Western countries mounted sanctions against Russian assets abroad in response to the war in Ukraine, a cat-and-mouse game regarding that wealth started in Switzerland between regulators and oligarchs. The luxury sector is feeling the chill.

Al Jazeera • 2nd May 2022

Peru: Months after huge earthquake, survivors feel abandoned

Displaced families have been camping out in tents, as critics say the government must deliver on promised aid.

SWI swissinfo.ch • 2nd March 2022

Swiss trading hub adapts to new wartime reality

After Switzerland took a historical step to impose economic sanctions against Russia to align them with Europe and the United States on Monday, its commodities trading ecosystem - a key cogwheel for Russian exports - is having to adapt.