Switzerland would like to hold the world's most important conference on tackling climate change. This week's conference on sustainable finance in Geneva is a stepping stone for the country's candidacy.

Switzerland will likely put its candidacy forward to host the United Nations COP31 in 2026, federal councilor Ueli Maurer and Building Bridges chair Patrick Odier, said at the sustainable finance conference on Monday.

Building Bridges, taking place in its third edition this week, is a forerunner for the country's candidacy, Odier said.

Annual UN Conference

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations, which reviews the Convention and the progress made in achieving its climate objectives.

It lasts for two weeks and is attended by around 30,000 participants from governments, businesses and civil society. Since the first COP meeting, which took place in Berlin in 1995, meetings have been held almost annually. Next month's COP27 will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. 

Geneva, Zurich and Basel are among the potential hosting cities.