Spain will host the COP25 climate summit in December, the UN said on November 1, 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.

After more than 10 days of street protests, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said 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.

He said Spanish 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.

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.

What is COP25?

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the international response to climate change. It is a treaty that establishes the basic obligations of the 196 parties (countries) plus the European Union to combat climate change. It was signed at the Earth Summit in 1992 and came into force in 1994. 

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. The Parties meet annually to review progress in the implementation of the Convention where other instruments that support the implementation of the Convention are proposed, evaluated and approved.

The first COP was held in Berlin in 1995. To date, 24 COPs have been held, the last one in Katowice, Poland, in December 2018.

The COP25, the fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 15), and the second session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 2) will be held in Madrid from December 2-13, 2019.

What is Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation?

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. APEC's 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration. APEC has 21 members. India is not part of APEC.  

APEC ensures that goods, services, investment and people move easily across borders. Members facilitate this trade through faster customs procedures at borders, more favorable business climates behind the border and aligning regulations and standards across the region. For example, APEC's initiatives to synchronize regulatory systems is a key step to integrating the Asia-Pacific economy. A product can be more easily exported with just one set of common standards across all economies.

Social crisis in Chile

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 with the country semi-paralysed as numerous shops and businesses remained closed. Twenty people have been confirmed killed in the unrest.

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