Pact for Spain to host the next climate summit

Spain has become a serious contender to host the next UN climate summit, which could be held in Madrid between December 3 and 12, after the surprise resignation of Chile to organize this meeting. A pact between the Spanish and Chilean governments paves the way as the UN stresses that it hopes to adopt the proposed agreement “as soon as possible.” The decision will be formally adopted early next week (Monday or Tuesday) by the Governing Board of the UN Climate Change Convention.

President Sánchez has offered Spain as the organizing country of this summit, which is number 25 (COP25) of the Climate Change Convention (and for whose realization the logistics of the United Nations system are available).

Unofficial government spokesmen assume that the UN will respond favorably, especially after the receptivity shown by the executive secretary of the Climate Change Convention, Patricia Espinosa, who called the offer “encouraging.”

However, there is prudence, pending an official formal agreement.

There is also no other candidacy on the table.

Conversion between presidents, a decisive step

And it would be the first time that a conference of these characteristics takes place in Spain.

Madrid is the chosen capital, without Barcelona having left in the pools (despite the fact that this city has organized important fairs and world congresses).

In a note sent by the government of Chile, its president, Sebastián Piñera, reports that he spoke on Wednesday by phone with Sánchez, “who made a generous offer to organize the summit in Madrid,” on the same days it was planned, despite the fact that the government is in office in Spain.

The Chilean president acknowledges in that note having shared the Spanish proposal with “the highest authorities of the United Nations and COP25” to “ensure that all the progress that had been achieved can be materialized [en la organización de la cumbre en Chile] and launched” at the summit “to be held in Madrid.”

Multi-party negotiations

The Spanish government saves a moment of ‘impasse’ critical of the UN although it still has to negotiate with the City Council and the Community of Madrid

The wake of Paris

The great importance of this conference derives from the fact that it will have to complete the elaboration of the rules and norms that develop the Paris Agreement, the first global pact against warming.

At this meeting, some countries can also present new action plans, pledges or contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before the revision of their first national objectives (shown in Paris).

The official update of these commitments should take place, in any case, next year at the climate conference in Glasgow (Great Britain).

Madrid could also be a relevant moment to press the thermometer of global actions against climate change, given that current efforts to achieve a stable climate are insufficient.

However, the Spanish government must now negotiate with the Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid, both with a popular government. Some 25,000 people could participate in this event, which would have its impact on the Spanish capital.

UN Convention on Climate Change

It would be the first time that a conference of these characteristics takes place in Spain

The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, has announced that the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, offered to host the COP25 climate summit on the dates on which the meeting in Santiago was scheduled to take place.

Offering

After the announcement of the president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, the acting president of the Government conveyed to him the willingness of Spain to collaborate in everything that was necessary, including, where appropriate, the possibility of hosting the climate summit in Madrid, reports Moncloa in a statement.

Spain considers that multilateral action on climate matters is a priority on the agenda of the United Nations and the European Union, which requires the greatest commitment on the part of all.

Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the offer on social media with a tweet.

The acting Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, has also referred to this proposal with a tweet in which she highlights: “we stand in solidarity with Chilean society and understand the priority of its domestic agenda. For this reason, we have offered Chile the support of Spain so that COP 25 can develop normally. Committed to climate action and the Paris Agreement.”

Favorable reception of Patricia Espinosa

Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the Climate Change Agreement, confirmed that the Chilean president had informed her of the “generous offer of support from the government of Spain to host the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Madrid on the scheduled dates.”

“We hope that the COP Bureau will be able to take into consideration the proposed solution as soon as possible. It is encouraging to see that countries are working together in a spirit of multilateralism to address climate change, the greatest challenge facing present and future generations,” says Patricia Espinosa.

Reaction of the Executive Secretary of the Convention

“It’s encouraging to see countries working together.”

Chile, an active member of the Ibero-American community, assumed the presidency and organization of COP25 after the resignation of Brazil with the arrival of President Jair Bolsonaro to the Government.

Given the short period of time available, the Spanish Government considers it important to ensure that COP25 is held normally and in coherence with the priorities of Spain’s foreign policy.

Source: The Vanguard