"This project is for everyone in Spain who wants to take action against climate change", says Isabel García Tejerina

At the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs, Isabel García Tejerina presented the project entitled "One Million Commitments for Climate - Road to COP21 in Paris". The Spanish minister believes that "this project is for everyone in Spain who wants to take action against climate change", adding that it is an inclusive project designed to help join forces.

The project was presented two days before the commemoration of World Environment Day, this year being celebrated under the slogan of "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care". In this regard, Isabel García Tejerina referred to the message sent out by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in which he asks people to reflect on the environmental consequences of the choices we make.

The Spanish minister explained that "this is the spirit with which we are launching this project aimed at involving everyone in the fight against climate change whilst, at the same time, doing everything we can to ensure that the COP 21, due to be held in Paris in December, is a success".

Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio AmbienteIn this regard, Isabel García Tejerina thanked the Ambassadors of China, Peru and France for their support in this project, as the three countries play a key role in the international negotiations aimed at reaching that major agreement in Paris. She also expressed gratitude for the collaboration provided by over 60 entities already committed to this initiative.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted the work of Professor José Manuel Moreno - a Spanish expert in climate change whose explanations have helped us all realise that climate change represents the greatest environmental challenge facing the planet.
Isabel García Tejerina explained that, with this project, "we want people, institutions and companies to know what we can do to combat climate change and start taking decisive action". The Spanish minister believes that this task is not impossible and that, with small steps every day, everyone can contribute to reducing emissions.

"A wave of unity spreading forth from hundreds of thousands of citizens and thousands of companies and entities" is starting to emerge, she said. She also asked the first entities to make this commitment "to spread the message to Spanish society as a whole because there is no question that we stand on a historic threshold in the fight against climate change".

Furthermore, Isabel García Tejerina said that this project "highlights the important role that each one of us represents in transforming our development model into a low-emissions model".

One Million for Climate website

Isabel García Tejerina also announced that the website is now online and encouraged everyone to express their commitment to the climate as soon as possible. She explained that this website can be used by anyone to make their public commitment to the climate either individually or as an entity.

The website offers a list of commitments that reduce CO2 emissions with over 80 possible actions to choose from, although anyone can add their own ideas to expand the list.

The project will also be supported on the social media networks. On Twitter: @compromisoclima and with the hashtag: #porelclima. And on Facebook: compromisoclima.

Isabel García Tejerina reiterated her request for everyone to collaborate and help reach that figure of one million commitments in Spain. "If we succeed and Spanish society presents those one million commitments at the COP21 in Paris, we will show how it is possible to reach a major global agreement to combat climate change if efforts are made with passion, hard work, imagination and clear ideas."

Personal commitment

Finally, Isabel García Tejerina expressed her own personal commitment and that of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs. In particular, the Spanish minister committed to avoiding lifts and keeping tyres at the right pressure.

Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio AmbienteIn turn, Isabel García Tejerina said that the Ministry of Agriculture is committed to calculating its carbon footprint and taking steps to reduce it year after year. Specifically, a switch-over will be made from fossil fuels in heating systems and fluorinated gases in cooling systems, while improvements will be made in lighting with LEDs and paper consumption will be reduced.

At the same time, the 11,000 civil servants who work for the ministerial department will be invited to make a commitment and also suggest ideas.