Interview with Reto Knutti

Mr Knutti, there are still many people who doubt that climate change is happening. What do you have to say to them?

People are chiefly responsible for global warming. That is a fact. The physical principles have been clear for over a century, and observations leave us in no doubt. The real debate that we should be having is not whether climate change is happening, but how we as a society address these risks, and what steps we intend to take to adapt and reduce emissions.

Climate change is a matter of urgency. “The course must be set,” you say in the video. What specifically needs to be done, and how do we go about it?

Is it even possible to influence global development from Switzerland?

If there is a global problem, everyone must contribute to solving it, regardless of their size. And if we in Switzerland, with our expertise, financial means, and political and social system, are unable to show that this transformation is possible, who can? But then there is the innovation factor, too: If we succeed in developing attractive solutions, the world will want to buy or replicate them. And that gives us huge additional leverage.

For centuries, Zurich has been the birthplace of significant ideas and approaches that are relevant to society. What is it that makes Zurich an attractive research location for you?

Zurich is an exemplary city on environmental issues. Can it also be a role model when it comes to climate change?

Of course! It is already further than other places, but even in a leading position you cannot afford to stand still. And success is not down to politics or the city council alone, it also depends on the people who live and work here. Everyone can do something. And we are still only at the beginning.