The Swiss environment minister has just completed her first virtual visit overseas. SWI swissinfo.ch sat down with Simonetta Sommaruga to ask her how digitalisation is changing diplomacy, and about the future of Swiss climate policy after voters rejected the revised law on CO2. SWI swissinfo.ch: You have just completed your first digital working visit as a way to test out a more climate-friendly approach to trips abroad. What has the experience been like? Simonetta Sommaruga: I’m thrilled! I was in a national park in California and had the feeling of really being there. You save a lot of time and CO2 emissions with a virtual trip. The potential is enormous. SWI: Could you also conduct difficult negotiations this way in the future? S.S: There are limits, of course. These virtual visits cannot replace face-to-face encounters. A confidential conversation behind closed doors wouldn’t be possible in this format. When there are conflicts involved, you want to be there without a screen...
