Switzerland 1st country to submit pledge for UN climate pact

(AP)—Switzerland has become the first country to submit a pledge to the United Nations for a new global climate deal, vowing to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

The Swiss government said Friday that at least 30 percent of the reduction would be achieved at home and the remainder through projects abroad.

The European Union, United States, China and Norway have also announced their intended targets but haven't formally submitted them to the U.N.

The new climate deal is supposed to be adopted at the end of the year at a conference in Paris. It would be the first time that all countries agree to take action to limit greenhouse gas emissions, which scientists say are warming the planet.