COP25: Iberdrola at the Climate Summit 2019
COP25 studied how to restrict the rise of global temperatures to below 1.5 ºC
The last UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) was held from 2 to 13 December in Madrid (Spain), under the presidency of Chile. That time, discussions were focused 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.
Summary of Iberdrola's participation in COP25.
Iberdrola group sponsored the United Nations Climate Summit (COP25).
Leaders in renewable energy.
COP25: the climate summit in Madrid.
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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 was the 25th edition of the summit, whose battle cry was Time to act, a call to all countries to scale up their commitments to fighting climate change. The COP25
External link, opens in new window. proposed going beyond the targets in the Paris Agreement — which set out to keep global warming to below 2 ºC — and insisted 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 is committed to becoming carbon neutral in Europe by 2030 — its CO2 emissions are already between half and almost three times lower than those of its main competitors — and to reducing its global CO2 emissions intensity to 50g/kWh — which would be 70g/kWh by the end of 2025 — until it becomes carbon neutral globally by 2050.
The company has also set a target to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which has been approved by the Science Based Target 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.
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Iberdrola stand at COP25
Iberdrola group, one of the official sponsors of the conference, had its own stand at COP25. Located in the Green Zone, open to anyone attending the event, the stand was a sustainable space showing the company's leading position in the fight against climate change. To this end, Iberdrola offered 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. The stand received visits from the acting Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, and the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Pedro Duque.
Madrid was dyed in green due to COP25. (Spanish version)
The important role of women in the fight against climate change
During COP25, Iberdrola's stand was visited by representatives of the winning projects of Momentum for Change: Women for Results, a UN initiative that rewards leadership and solutions provided by women to face climate change. Esnath Divasoni, from Zimbabwe; Bijalben Brahmbhatt, from India; Inna Braverman, from Ukraine; and Amy Tai, from the USA, defy geographical limits with their responses to the climate crisis.
Four female entrepreneurs count their initiatives to face the climatic emergency.
Moving for Climate NOW 2019
In addition, as in previous years, the company organised Moving for Climate NOW External link, opens in new window., a cycling trip that had 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.
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.
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 [PDF] 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 1.5 ºC, 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 also contributed 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
With a total of 17 transactions issued as at April 2020, for a value of 11.4 billion euros, Iberdrola is an international benchmark in green financing.
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).
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More information about COP25
Where and when was COP25 held?
COP25 was held from 2 to 13 December 2019 in Madrid which became the venue for the summit after Chile's withdrawal. The organisation chose the Feria de Madrid exhibition centre to host the event, which was attended by 25,000 people. This is the first time Spain has hosted a COP.
Who chaired COP25?
Chile's Environment minister, Carolina Schmidt, presided 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, raised 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.
