The Minister for Territory and Sustainability, Damià Calvet, is heading the Catalan delegation that will participate in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25). The conference, which runs from today until 13 December in Madrid, brings together over 25,000 representatives from 200 countries engaged in the fight against climate change. The outcome of COP25 is considered crucial to regain a sense of urgency about the transition to carbon neutrality. The conference will also allow all countries, including the most vulnerable, to present road maps based on what they are able to achieve.

The Catalan delegation will participate in various sessions and workshops over the course of the conference.

Catalonia, a pioneer in defending the environment

Catalonia has been a pioneer in undertaking specific actions to combat the effects of climate change. The Catalan Climate Change Law, adopted in 2017, defines a series of challenges and sets out commitments to achieve strategic objectives in this area. Passing the law was a key milestone for Catalonia because it provides administrations, associations, entities, institutions and individuals with a new tool for tackling climate change, a problem that knows no borders and that everyone must be involved in addressing.

In May, the Catalan government joined others leading on the climate issue by declaring a climate emergency to facilitate the achievement of mitigation objectives. The declaration led to the organisation of the first Catalan summit on the climate emergency, which will be held on 17 January 2020.