Spain will host the COP25 climate summit in December, the UN said on Friday, after Chile abandoned plans to hold it due to deadly anti-government protests. "We are pleased to announce the COP Bureau has agreed that COP25 will take place from 2-13 December in Madrid," United Nations climate chief Patricia Espinosa said on Twitter. After more than 10 days of street protests, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Thursday his country was not in a position to host either the December 2-13 climate convention as well as the November 16-17 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
"This has been a very difficult decision, a decision that has been deeply painful because we know exactly how important APEC and COP are for Chile and the world," said Pinera. "When a father has problems, he must always prioritise his family over other options. The same goes for a president, he must always put his own compatriots first, ahead of any other considerations," he added.
He said Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had "made a generous offer to host the COP 25 summit in Madrid" on the originally scheduled dates which the Spanish government promptly confirmed. Sanchez, who is gearing up for a repeat general election on November 10, called Espinosa's announcement that Madrid would hold the climate summit "excellent news", adding Spain was already working to prepare the event.
"Our government remains firmly committed for lasting progress and a fair ecological transition," he added in a tweet. Some 25,000 delegates were expected in Chile for COP 25, including teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The Madrid city councillor in charge of tourism, Almudena Maillo del Valle, said the Spanish capital was "perfectly qualified" to host the event.
"We have hotel capacity, our city is one of the safest in the world, we have the best public transport network," she told Spanish public radio. APEC said it supported Chile's decision but gave no indication there would be a replacement summit this year, saying only that Malaysia would host the 2020 event.
Chile is grappling with its worst social crisis in decades, one that shows little sign of abating despite Pinera announcing a raft of measures aimed at placating protesters. Demonstrators have demanded that the 69-year-old right-wing leader - whose personal fortune is estimated by Forbes at $2.8 billion - step down.
They have been angered by low salaries and pensions, poor public health care and education, and a yawning gap between rich and poor. Pinera announced last week an increase in the minimum wage and pensions as well as measures to alleviate sky-high health care costs and a streamlining of public offices. Protests began on October 18 and during the first few days there was widespread destruction, arson and looting.
Demonstrations have been largely calm over the last week but there were violent clashes between demonstrators and security services on Monday, when shops were looted and a building set on fire. Huge numbers took to the streets on Wednesday, with the country semi-paralysed as numerous shops and businesses remained closed.