Acceleration Days 2026 – Stepping up together in the face of climate urgency

Welcome Speech by Ms Anne de Riedmatten, Deputy Director of International Affairs at the Climate Action Accelerator's Accelerations Days at the Graduate Institute 

25 March 2026
 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to address you today at the opening of the fourth edition of the “Acceleration Days.” I would like to thank the Climate Action Accelerator for inviting the canton of Geneva to say a few words this morning. 
 

A warm welcome to each of you. 

This day promises to be particularly rich, both in terms of the quality of its content and the valuable exchanges it will foster.

This year’s theme “Heading towards 3ºC: How do we step up together?,” places collaboration at its core – an approach to which the canton of Geneva is deeply committed, and which remains essential if we are to move forward collectively in the face of the climate challenges ahead. 

I am pleased to see many of the canton’s partners present today, whether among the participants or within the various thematic sessions.

As Roberta Boscolo from WMO will no doubt explain us in her keynote, the climate situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming pace. 

It is no longer a hypothesis or a matter of debate, but a tangible reality. Severe droughts, water shortages and floodings, rising sea levels, devastating wildfires, and disruptions to natural ecosystems are just a few examples of the many direct impact of the climate emergency.

These upheavals disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, directly impacting their health, safety, and homes. They highlight a profound injustice: all too often, those who contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions are the ones who suffer the most severe consequences.

Today, the effects of climate change are being felt across all societies, albeit unevenly, revealing and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. 

We are facing a global, shared challenge – one that will intensify dangerously over the coming decades if we do not act decisively and collectively. The collapse of the Birch Glacier, which destroyed the village of Blatten in Valais last year, tragically reminded us of this reality. 

It illustrates, in concrete terms, how melting ice is already destabilising our territories—including here in Switzerland.

This is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a broader pattern of environmental degradation, at a time when nearly all planetary boundaries—from biodiversity to water resources—have already been exceeded.

In the face of this alarming situation, we are witnessing a worrying disengagement from environmental issues at a political level. For years, the scientific community has been calling on us to act. 

At a time when scientific voices are being undermined and facts are being contested, it is our responsibility to uphold them with strength. In an environment increasingly marked by misinformation, science must remain our common compass.

The time for observation has passed; the time for action is now. We must accelerate the pace of deployment of low carbon, sustainable practices, while strengthening the protection of the ecosystems that support both life and livelihoods. 

The scale of the challenge calls for a strong, collective, and coordinated response, grounded in the clear warnings of science. It is up to us today to shift into a higher gear, to scale up our efforts, and bring together all key stakeholders, in Geneva and around the world. 

In this regard, Geneva has unique strengths. As a host city to numerous international organisations, Permanent Missions, NGOs and businesses, it embodies a dynamic ecosystem rich in expertise and innovation, with strong connections to actors and communities worldwide. With its longstanding diplomatic tradition, it offers a neutral platform for dialogue. 

Thanks to this unique ecosystem, it can—and must—remain a central hub for developing concrete and ambitious solutions, at the intersection of knowledge, policy, and action.

For more than twenty years, the canton of Geneva has been committed to international solidarity, supporting initiatives that address climate change through both prevention and adaptation, while promoting the preservation of a healthy environment. 

Through its financial support—notably to the Climate Action Accelerator— the canton of Geneva is directly helping to tackle the impacts of climate change and to disseminate solutions for a more sustainable future. It also supports humanitarian actors assisting victims of natural disasters, often linked to these disruptions and too rarely visible in the media. 

Together, we must find effective ways to respond to the needs of populations, while respecting planetary boundaries and the limits of a finite world.

The discussions taking place today are fully aligned with this commitment. I am convinced they will demonstrate the crucial role of dialogue, solidarity, collective action and investment in addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change.

I invite each one of you to continue this work together, fully mobilising Geneva’s unique strengths in service of this global challenge.

I wish you all an excellent day, rich in exchanges, discoveries, and collaborations that lead to concrete progress.

Thank you for your attention.
 

Only the spoken text shall prevail