The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has taken part in the Climate Summit in Belém (Brazil), held in the context of the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Belém (Brazil)

Group photo of the heads of State and Government attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo y Pool COP 30)

During his speeches in the plenary and at the round table on energy transition, the president gave the example of Spain - one of the fastest growing economies in the OECD - as an example of how policies to combat the climate emergency are favourable for economic growth: "Not only is it possible to grow while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but it is the best way to do so. To grow and improve together thanks to this energy transformation that does not subtract, but multiplies: it multiplies jobs, investment and the future".

Pedro Sánchez underlined the devastating effects of climate change, which has claimed 20,000 lives in Spain so far this decade, and in the last year has led to an unprecedented DANA, fires and heat waves. In view of this, he called for the proposal for a State Pact to tackle the Climate Emergency, formulated by the Government in September, which he encouraged the rest of the country's political and social forces to join: "We must make it happen. We must be up to the task and aim for a future horizon that is positive for our children and grandchildren", he emphasised.

With regard to the COP's objectives, the President of the Government stressed the need to continue to make progress on the priorities set at the summit. On climate change mitigation, he highlighted Spain's leadership, recently reflected in its decisive contribution to achieving the EU's commitment to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040. On adaptation, he underlined the importance of prioritising this at the same level as mitigation, developing a globally applicable set of indicators, and avoiding a divide between developed and developing countries. On financing, he expressed both his satisfaction that Spain has exceeded its international climate finance target ahead of schedule, and his confidence that the Baku-Belém Roadmap will soon be adopted so that globally the so-called New Quantified Collective Goal of 300 billion dollars a year to support climate action in developing countries can be met.

New contributions from Spain

In his speech to the plenary, Pedro Sánchez dedicated his first words to remembering the victims of the DANA. He went on to underline Spain's commitment to the fight against climate change in the face of those who deny or relativise its impact, adding that green transition policies are also an engine for growth and transformation. He reaffirmed our country's commitment to climate multilateralism, announcing new contributions totalling €45 million between the Adaptation Fund, the Loss and Damage Response Fund, and the World Meteorological Organisation's Systematic Observation Facility. He also stressed that progress is ongoing with other countries on taxing premium class flights and private jets, stressing that "it is only fair: those who have the most and pollute the most should pay their fair share".

During his participation in the round table dedicated to the energy transition, the president pointed out the need to continue to make progress in the deployment of clean energy. He highlighted Spain's leadership in its roadmap for the expansion of renewable energies, which translates into greater competitiveness, certainty and security, reaching in the last ten years a contribution of more than 56% of electricity from renewable sources and at more competitive prices. Pedro Sánchez also underlined Spain's ambition to consolidate its position as an international benchmark in the development of green hydrogen technologies, pointing to the opportunities it represents for the transformation and modernisation of industry and value chains at a global level.

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