Switzerland plays a major role in the clean technology sector and is helping to further our efforts to solve climate change. Feasibility studies for our Solar Impulse aircraft were carried out at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and a large number of Swiss SMEs[2] participated in its construction. On reaching California after crossing the Pacific, Solar Impulse was welcomed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the two founders of Google - proof, if it was ever needed - of Switzerland's credibility in terms of innovative technologies.

[2] Small and Medium-sized Enterprises ("SME") employing fewer than 250 staff are the lifeblood of the Swiss economy. They account for over 99% of all businesses and provide roughly two-thirds of the jobs in Switzerland, source: SMEs in Switzerland.

We urgently need more demanding norms and standards, which enforce energy and resource efficiency, and promote the circular economy and respect for biodiversity. We must implement solutions that already exist and deliver more efficient technologies. I believe that Switzerland has what it takes to succeed. Our researchers and companies are developing and producing high value-added clean technologies, thereby offering practical solutions to the environmental challenges the world is facing. This is a great opportunity, not only for the future of the planet, but also for our trade balance and the profitability of our companies. But to achieve this goal, politicians must take responsibility for more rigorous environmental policies.