18 December 2015: The Swiss Federal Council released a decision on how it will “participate actively” in international efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to measure and monitor the progress made towards achieving them. Switzerland intends to prepare a country report for the UN by 2018 on the status of its implementation of the Goals. Ahead of this, the Federal Administration will determine the areas in which the country will take action, and report on how it intends to achieve the 17 SDGs.

In a statement, the Council recognizes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a new universal framework “in its efforts to promote human prosperity and sustainable economic development and protect the environment both at home and around the world.” It notes its intention to implement the Agenda through international cooperation activities and the Federal Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy.

According to the Council, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) will coordinate their work on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in collaboration with other federal agencies.

The Federal Council is the highest executive authority in Switzerland. It is made up of seven members elected by the Federal Assembly, each of which heads a government department. [Swiss Confederation Press Release]