Why Did COP25 Move to Madrid?

By Michael Ferguson

The annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP (Conference of the Parties), was scheduled to take place in Santiago, Chile from December 2-13, 2019. However, due to ongoing civil unrest in the country, the Chilean government had to cancel its plans to host the event and had to move it to Madrid, Spain instead.

Why did COP25 move?
The decision to move COP25 was taken after weeks of anti-government protests that turned violent in Chile. The protests were sparked by a proposed increase in Subway fares but quickly escalated into a broader movement against social inequality and political corruption. As a result of the unrest, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency and canceled hosting the climate summit.

The search for an alternative venue
With just a few weeks left until the conference date, finding a new host for COP25 became a top priority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The organization considered several options before deciding on Madrid as the new location for the event.

Why Madrid?

Madrid’s offer to host COP25 came as a surprise as it was not even among the original bidders for hosting the conference. However, Spain’s proposal received strong backing from other European countries and support from several Latin American nations.

One of the key reasons why Madrid was chosen is that it has extensive experience hosting large international events. The city has already hosted major events such as World Youth Day and World Pride, which have attracted millions of visitors from around the world.

Moreover, Spain has always been an active participant in climate negotiations and has been committed to promoting renewable energy sources. In fact, Spain was one of several countries that pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050 at this year’s UN Climate Action Summit held in New York City.

The challenges ahead

Moving COP25 to Madrid has not been without its challenges. The Spanish government had only a few weeks to prepare for the conference, which typically takes months of planning and preparation. In addition, the conference center in Madrid where the event will take place is smaller than the one in Santiago, which means that some events and meetings may have to be reorganized or relocated.

Furthermore, many of the countries attending COP25 have already made travel arrangements and booked accommodation in Santiago. The change of venue has caused inconvenience and additional expenses for delegates who had to reschedule their travel plans.

The bottom line

Despite the challenges, moving COP25 to Madrid was a necessary decision given the circumstances in Chile. The climate summit is an important event that brings together world leaders, policymakers, scientists, and activists from around the world to discuss solutions for combating climate change. Spain’s commitment to renewable energy and experience hosting large events make it a suitable alternative host for this year’s conference.