Pedro Sánchez checks first-hand final details for Climate Conference organised in record time

Madrid

During his visit, the Acting President of the Government observed Spain's efforts and involvement in the COP25, a Conference that has been organised in record time, thanks to a commitment from the Acting President of the Government in offering to host this Conference, as yet another commitment from the Government of Spain to climate change and to the Sustainable Development Goals contained in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

After Chile renounced holding the event as a result of the social situation in the country, Spain's priority, aware that action on climate change cannot be delayed, and given this extraordinary situation, was to support the climate agenda and multilateralism, at a time in which it is under threat, by ensuring that the COP25 is held, offering to host it in Madrid under the Chilean Presidency on the same dates as originally scheduled. This Conference commences a decisive year for global climate ambition, in which Spain, as a member of the Ibero-American Community of Nations, wishes to forge the path for the implementation of this ambition and convert Madrid, Chile and the whole of Latin America into the supportive capitals of this change.

The installations that will host the COP25 occupy more than 100,000 square metres at the IFEMA trade fair site, spread over seven pavilions, which have all been prepared by 6,000 professionals and 2,000 volunteers in order to be ready for Monday. Close to 30,000 people have already registered to attend the Conference. The organisation of this event has meant an investment by the Government of Spain of some 50 million euros, a figure that is between the cheapest COP to organise at 37 million euros and the Paris Conference in 2015, which cost 178 million euros. The economic return is estimated to exceed 200 million euros.

A key Conference for fairer and more inclusive climate action

The Government of Spain, represented by its Acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the Chilean Presidency, represented by its Minister for the Environment, Carolina Schmidt, and the United Nations, represented by its Executive Secretary for Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa, have worked tirelessly to ensure that the COP25 is a key Conference for achieving a fairer and more inclusive global climate action movement. It will be attended by delegations from 196 countries, some 50 Heads of State and Government, the most senior officials of the three European Union institutions - the Presidents of the European Commission, Parliament and Council - and senior officials from such international institutions as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Non official translation