COP25: IBERDROLA AT THE CLIMATE SUMMIT 2019
COP25 will study how to restrict the rise of global temperatures to below 1.5 ºC
The next UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) will be held from 2 to 13 December in Madrid (Spain), under the presidency of Chile. This time, discussions will focus on climate and energy scenarios that will help to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 ºC. This is the equivalent of achieving global net-zero CO2 emissions by mid-21st century, an objective with which Iberdrola group — one of the official sponsors — is fully aligned.
Iberdrola group sponsors the United Nations Climate Summit (COP25).
COP25 will be held in Madrid (Spain) from 2 to 13 December.
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Climate change is real, and mitigating its impact is a task that requires the force of the entire international community. That is why the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) organises the annual Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess countries' progress in dealing with climate obligations and propose new instruments to support their application.
This year is the 25th edition of the summit, whose battle cry is Time to act, a call to all countries to scale up their commitments to fighting climate change. The COP25 will propose going beyond the targets in the Paris Agreement — which set out to keep global warming to below 2 ºC — and will insist on the need to move toward climate and energy scenarios that ensure that this increase stays below 1.5 ºC.
IBERDROLA, ALIGNED TO THE GOALS OF COP25
Iberdrola group has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 30% — over 2007 levels — by 2020, by 50% in 2030 and finally, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. These goals have been recognized as science-based in accordance with the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative.
In the context of COP25, the company reaffirms its commitment to a climate scenario fully aligned with a maximum increase in temperature of 1.5 ºC; and the appropriate framework of working conditions and equitable transition to foster decarbonisation. Both commitments were formalised in UN Climate Action Summit, held in New York last September, when the company signed two pledges promoted by organisations and governments directly involved in this event.
- GREEN FINANCING
EIB and Iberdrola sign two financing agreements for 690 million euros
The EIB and Iberdrola have announced at the Climate Summit the signing of two financing agreements whereby the EU bank will provide 250 million euros to finance 15 wind farms that the company will build in northeastern Brazil and another 440 million euros for the digitalization of its electrical networks in Spain. MORE INFORMATION
- THE MINISTER VISITS OUR STAND
The acting minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, on the Iberdrola stand
The acting minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, visited Iberdrola's stand in the green zone at COP25, where he met with the group's chairman, Ignacio Galán, and Claire Perry O'Neill, president of COP26, to be held in Glasgow next year. MORE INFORMATION
- RECEPTION AT THE ROYAL HOUSE
Ignacio Galán attends the reception at the Royal House
The chairman and CEO of Iberdrola group, Ignacio Galán, attended the reception that, on occasion of the COP25 inauguration in Madrid, was offered by His and Her Majesty the King and Queen to the heads of state and government who have come to the Spanish capital to attend the summit. Referring to the slogan of the summit, It's time to act, don Felipe said that "there are no borders that can protect us from the effects of climate change. We cannot postpone decision-making: we must act from a shared leadership and firmly." MORE INFORMATION
- SPAIN, THE VENUE FOR THE COP25
The energy transition, engine of growth and employment
For the chairman of the group, the holding of the COP25 in Madrid represents a recognition by the United Nations of the "leadership that Spanish institutions, companies and society are showing in matters of climate change and energy transition." He wrote this in an article published in the newspaper ABC, in which he states that Spain "has all the conditions to take advantage of the potential of the energy transition." READ FULL ARTICLE
- DOCUMENTARY ON OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY
'United by the wind', the most social side of offshore wind energy
Within the framework of COP25, Iberdrola group has presented the United by the wind documentary, which shows the most social aspect of the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm. More than twenty workers, both from the company and from several of its suppliers, tell us about the importance of teamwork, companionship and training to set up an infrastructure of this magnitude and complexity, as well as the driving effect that this development is having on local economies. ACCESS THE FULL DOCUMENTARY
- SUSTAINABLE PARKING
We are opening the first sustainable car park at an exhibition centre in Spain
Iberdrola has become a strategic partner of IFEMA (Madrid Fair Institution) in order to promote sustainable mobility through a variety of actions. As part of this collaboration, the first of these initiatives consisted of implementing the first sustainable public car park at an exhibition centre in Spain. The car park will be available to the participants at COP25. FIND OUT MORE
- UNITED FOR THE CLIMATE
Committed to carbon neutrality by 2050
Iberdrola, one of Europe's leading energy companies, has sent a letter to European environment ministers in which it supports the European Union's call to commit to achieving carbon neutrality before 2050 and, therefore, reducing greenhouse gases by at least 55%, in order to reach 1990 levels by 2030. ACCESS THE LETTER [PDF]
- OUR LINES OF ACTION
We are committed to a decarbonised future
Iberdrola wishes to contribute actively and decisively to a sustainable and low-carbon future, an effort that will also drive forward social and economic development through the creation of employment and wealth. Firm in its fight against climate change, the company currently leads the major international indexes and recognises the fight against climate change as a strategic pillar of its activity. In this sense, it has a Policy against Climate Change with different lines of action. FIND OUT ABOUT THEM
- OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Committed to ambitious and urgent climate action
The group has prevented 60 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere over the last three years, through its firm commitment to efficiency and renewable energies, in which it has invested €100 billion since 2001. At the end of the third quarter of 2019, 68% of the group's total installed capacity was emission-free and 62% corresponded to renewable energy. Iberdrola has also already closed 15 coal and oil plants. FIND OUT MORE
We invest all our energy in building a sustainable future [PDF]
IBERDROLA STAND AT COP25
Iberdrola group, one of the official sponsors of the conference, has its own stand at COP25. Located in the Green Zone, which is open to anyone attending the event, the stand is a sustainable space showing the company's leading position in the fight against climate change. To this end, Iberdrola offers specialised talks and audiovisual content explaining the group's main milestones, its commitments to reducing emissions and its flagship projects, as well as the initiatives that it is pursuing to raise awareness about the climate challenge and promote universal access to energy.
Iberdrola has its own stand in the Green Zone at COP25, open to anyone attending the event.
Acting Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, visited Iberdrola's stand, where she met with Ignacio Galán, chairman of the group, and Claire Perry O'Neill, president of COP26.
It is a sustainable space, with zero plastic and made from recycled material.
Visitors have access to innovative solutions and applications.
Visitors have access to innovative solutions and applications.
It offers talks about Iberdrola's leading position in climate action.
MOVING FOR CLIMATE NOW 2019
In addition, as in previous years, the company organised Moving for Climate NOW, a cycling trip that has the backing of the UNFCCC and the COP25. In this fifth edition, fifty representatives of companies, administrations and non-profit organisations traveled 500 kilometres by electric bicycle in order to raise awareness of the importance of the climate challenge, unite efforts from all realms and act with ambition and urgency to halt climate change.
Moving for climate NOW 2019.
Moving for Climate NOW traveled 500 kilometres by electric bicycle, from Salamanca to Madrid.
The team arrived at the COP25 on Sunday, 1 December, where its members were met by the company chairman, Ignacio Galán.
The participants handed their manifesto to Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, and Gonzalo Muñoz, Climate Champion COP25.
Moving for Climate NOW reached Madrid on 1 December, on the eve of the COP25.
The fifth stage of the expedition was a 90-kilometre ride from Guadalupe to Toledo.
The fourth stage was 92 kilometres long, between Trujillo and Guadalupe.
The third stage of Moving for Climate NOW ended in Trujillo, after travelling 90 kilometres from Cáceres.
In the second stage, the team headed for Cáceres, covering a 107-kilometre route from Salamanca through the Monfragüe National Park.
The first stage was 103 kilometres long and went from Salamanca to Ávila.
Moving for Climate NOW started out in Salamanca on Tuesday, 26 November.
The group cycles to raise awareness of the urgency and importance of fighting climate change ambitiously.
The team began cycling in Salamanca on Tuesday, 26 November and arrived in Madrid on Sunday, 1 December, on the eve of the summit in the city. The cyclists were welcomed by group chairman Ignacio Galán who encouraged them to "keep fighting climate change to leave a habitable world for generations to come". "The decade which is about to begin must be the decade of action and 2020 the year of ambition: the Paris Agreement is already in force and we must harness all available resources to comply with it," he added.
Moving for Climate NOW delivered its Manifesto against climate change to the Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, in which they highlight the need to increase climate ambition and take steps forward towards scenarios that limit the increase in temperature below 1.5ºC, which is equivalent to achieving zero net emissions by 2050. In order to achieve this, the team considers that it is necessary to act fundamentally on five points:
- The urgency of uniting efforts in all areas, ensuring support measures for the most vulnerable.
- The importance of seeing the fight against climate change not only as a major challenge but also as an opportunity to build a sustainable economic model.
- The need to accelerate the energy transition, by committing to renewable energy.
- The value of having nature as an ally.
- The importance of mobilising resources to improve climate adaptation.
The Moving for Climate NOW initiative has been awarded in the II edition of the Climate Leaders Awards 2019 in the category of Outreach Initiative, in recognition of its work in the fight against climate change in Spain.
Iberdrola will also contribute to the COP25 by preparing reports and statements of ambition and taking part in high level technical events.
OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE MAIN SUBJECTS OF COP25
Pioneering the energy transition
Iberdrola group is committed to a clean, reliable, smart business model that replaces polluting sources of energy with clean ones.
We are committed to renewable energies
Renewable energies are and will be one of the pillars of the group, which will allocate 39% of the 34 billion euros of investment planned for the 2018-2022 period to this business area.
We are driving sustainable mobility
As an efficient way to combat climate change, Iberdrola is leading the transition towards sustainable mobility and the electrification of transport.
The circular economy is our base
The group bases its sustainable business model on emissions reduction, efficiency improvements, and resource optimisation.
Transparency in risk management
The company is working towards implementing the TCFD recommendations to provide information on how to manage the risks and opportunities derived from climate change.
World leader in climate finance
Iberdrola is the world's leading private sector group in green financing, with 11 billion euros issued since April 2014 via the capital markets.
We are protecting ecosystem biodiversity
The group is committed to undertaking new projects for the conservation and protection of our natural heritage as well as those that promote its development.
We work with vulnerable groups
The company has put in place different schemes to facilitate access to energy for disadvantaged groups and promote their social inclusion.
2019 CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES WORK AREAS
Completing the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
This is a framework for the creation of an international cooperation system that enables the transfer of emissions reduction know-how. This system would form the basis for establishing a global carbon pricing model, in other words, putting a price on CO2 emissions, by monetising the costs derived from the economic, social and environmental consequences of greenhouse gas emissions.
Closing the technical details of the Katowice Rulebook
Specifically, those relating to the political commitments made by the countries such as transparency, governance and climate financing, among others.
One example will be the work undertaken to specify and homogenise the parameters and contents of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Paris Agreement sees this benchmark document as the core of the political actions each country will perform with respect to climate action. However, the parameters of the objectives and a number of the details that will guide the design and updating of these commitments have yet to be specified.
Reviewing the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM)
This is a system created in 2013 — at COP19 — to analyse actions designed to deal with the losses and immediate damage being generated by climate change, such as the disasters caused by hurricanes or tornadoes.
Emissions reduction and respect for the environment
The role of the oceans, the incorporation of the gender perspective in work-related themes, and fair transition, and support for vulnerable groups will be some of the other topics that will be put under the spotlight, possibly resulting in the launch of specific platforms and initiatives.
The Chilean Presidency 
also wants to highlight specific topics that fall within the broader scope of combating climate change: oceans, the Antarctic, biodiversity, forests, adaptation and cities. Furthermore, the organisers have emphasised importance of renewable energies, the circular economy and electromobility in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
COMMITTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS AGREEMENTS
The group is fully committed to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the UN Agenda for 2030, which it has embedded to its strategy. Of the 17 goals, Iberdrola particularly focuses on affordable and non-polluting energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13), while making significant contributions to the fulfilment of others, such as no poverty (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and the implementation of partnerships to achieve the goals (SDG 17).
ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT COP25
What is COP?
The Conference of the Parties or COP is the highest body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , a treaty that sets out the basic obligations of the 196 states (or parties) and the European Union to combat climate change. The UNFCCC was signed at the 1992 Earth Summit and came into force in 1994. Since then, a COP has been held every year to check on its implementation status and propose, evaluate and approve other mechanisms to support its application.
Who is taking part in the COP?
The parties are the member states of the UNFCCC and the European Union — currently about 200 countries — who take part through their heads of State or Government or through ministers acting on their behalf. As well as the parties, the COP may also be attended by observers representing companies, international organisations, stakeholders and associations.
What is its aim of the COP?
The COP brings together governments from the whole world with thousands of scientists, business people, representatives of institutions and NGOs to announce new climate change commitments and advance negotiations on climate change, with the aim of putting into operation all the points of the Paris Agreement. So, this is effectively an unmissable event in the world climate change calendar.
How many COPs have there been?
Since1995, there have been 24 COPs. The first was in Berlin and since then they have been held in various cities in Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Bonn (Germany) has hosted a number of COPs, since it is the headquarters of the UNFCCC.
Where and when will COP25 be held?
COP25 will be held from 2 to 13 December in Madrid which has become the venue for the summit after Chile's withdrawal. The organisation has chosen the Feria de Madrid exhibition centre to host the event, which will be attended by 25,000 people. his is the first time Spain has hosted a COP.
Who is chairing COP25?
Chile's Environment minister, Carolina Schmidt, will preside over the summit, with the collaboration of the Chilean ministries of the Environment, External Affairs, and Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, as well as the Image of Chile Foundation.
Why is COP25 important?
COP25 is especially important because it constitutes the last meeting for the activation of the Paris Agreement, which needs to be fully in force by January 2020. Also, it will raise awareness about the need to increase climate ambition and move towards scenarios that allow the planet's temperature increase to be limited to below 1.5°C.
Where will COP26 be held?
In 2020, the COP will be held in Glasgow (UK) from 9 to 19 November. The Iberdrola group has a presence in that country through its affiliated company ScottishPower , a company at the forefront of the energy transition that uses exclusively 100% renewable resources .
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