Government approves submission to Parliament of Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environmental Affairs, Isabel García Tejerina, explained that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in the French capital last year, will be submitted to Parliament for its ratification under the fast-track procedure. The agreement came into force on 4 November following ratification by the European Union. Spain had not been able to ratify the agreement because it was operating under a caretaker government.

Isabel García Tejerina asserted that the fight against climate change is one of the government's priorities. In this regard, she recalled that "Spain has an effective policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which seeks to transform our economic model towards a low carbon economic development model". In order to achieve this, many tools have been implemented, she added, including compliance with Kyoto 1, future compliance with Kyoto 2 and work is already underway to comply with the Paris Agreement.

The minister highlighted that the Paris Agreement was a "very ambitious binding agreement" which reflected the goal of not exceeding the global average increase in the temperature of the planet of two degrees and, if possible, not exceeding one and a half degrees. She also remarked that this was a "universal agreement", which has already been ratified by105 countries that represent 75% of emissions, including 14 Member States of the European Union.

The commitment made by the European Union is to reduce emissions by at least 40% on 1990 levels. According to the minister, the EU had already reduced emissions in 2015 by 22% on 1990 levels over a period in which the European economy has grown by 50%. "We are capable of growing in a sustainable manner, there is economic growth, whilst at the same time we have managed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions", she said.

Isabel García Tejerina also highlighted that EU Member States as a whole are the most significant financial donors to developing countries. "More than half of global climate aid comes from the EU and its Member States. In 2015, we contributed more than 17.5 billion euros, which is a significant increase on previous years. Spain's contribution in 2015 stood at 467 million euros".

The minister recalled the commitment made by President of the Government Rajoy to double this amount to some 900 million euros by the year 2020. She also pointed out that Spain will contribute 120 million euros to the Green Climate Fund, of which, in line with the schedule set, 2 million have already been paid out.

Climate Summit (COP22)

Pool Moncloa/J.M.CuadradoIsabel García Tejerina highlighted that the ratification of the Paris Agreement will allow Spain "to fully participate in all the decisions" that will start to be adopted at the COP22 Marrakesh Climate Summit in Morocco, being held until 18 November, with the aim of implementing the agreements reached in Paris.

Spain will take part in the COP22 negotiation meetings under the umbrella of the European Union, announced the minister. Furthermore, it will be present in major thematic initiatives held in parallel, such as the contribution of agriculture to climate change, water treatment, with respect both to mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and international cooperation in this field.

Organic structure of ministerial departments

The Council of Ministers approved the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments, as well as certain appointments.

Furthermore, upon a proposal from the Minister for Justice, Rafael Catalá, the government agreed to arrange the requisite audience with the General Council of the Judiciary (Spanish acronym: CGPJ) on the proposed appointment of José Manuel Maza to replace Consuelo Madrigal as the Chief Public Prosecutor.

The Minister for Education, Culture and Sport, and the Government Spokesperson, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, took the opportunity of the press briefing to highlight "the great work carried out by Consuelo Madrigal" over her two years as Chief Public Prosecutor and thanked her for her commitment.

Ministerial reports

Pool Moncloa/J.M.CuadradoÍñigo Méndez de Vigo also reported that "all the ministerial departments will ask to appear before the corresponding committees to outline their goals and the plans of their respective departments".

He also announced that the President of the Government will receive the General Secretaries of the trade unions UGT, Josep María Álvarez, and of Comisiones Obreras, Ignacio Fernández Toxo, and the Presidents of the Spanish Confederation of Business Associations (Spanish acronym: CEOE), Juan Rosell, and of the Spanish Confederation of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (Spanish acronym: CEPYME), Antonio Garamendi, at Moncloa Palace on Thursday, 24 November, to analyse the economic and social situation, aid for the unemployed, the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and the sustainability of the public pension system within the framework of the Toledo Pact.

The meeting will also be attended by the Minister for Employment and Social Security, Fátima Báñez, who will appear before the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Toledo Pact two days prior to this, on 22 November.

The Government Spokesperson recalled that there were 8.3 million pensioners in Spain in 2007, and spending on pensions amounted to 79 billion euros. The number of pensioners in 2015 had risen to 9.4 million and spending to 117 billion euros. "It is necessary to hold dialogue, for us to talk and converse in order to look for the best way to guarantee the sustainability of pensions", she said.

International agenda of the President of the Government

Pool Moncloa/J.M.CuadradoÍñigo Méndez de Vigo announced the international agenda of the President of the Government for the coming week, which will begin with a visit by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, who Mariano Rajoy will receive at Moncloa Palace on Monday.

On Tuesday, 15 November, he will attend the High-Level Meeting of the Climate Summit being held in Marrakesh. The following day, on Wednesday, 16 November, he will receive the recently elected incoming United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

The President of the Government will end his week on Friday 18 November, with a meeting in Berlin called by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. This meeting will also be attended by the President of the French Republic, François Hollande; the British Prime Minister, Theresa May; the Italian Prime Minister, Mateo Renzi, and the outgoing President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Current affairs

The Government Spokesperson expressed his condolences over the death of the Spanish playwright, Francisco Nieva, the Canadian singer, Leonard Cohen and the Spanish boxer, Pedro Fernández, to whose family he sent "his deepest sympathies".

When asked about the possible repercussions of the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States on relations with Spain, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo highlighted the government's interest in maintaining cooperation with the Government of the United States, which is "a key partner and a strategic ally", with whom we have many issues and mutual interests in common.

As regards the holding of the Conference of Regional Presidents announced by President of the Government Rajoy in his investiture speech, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo said that an "interest and commitment in doing this" exists, although a date is yet to be set.

In response to questions from the press, the Minister for Education, Culture and Sport and Government Spokesperson stated that the trip announced by the King to Saudi Arabia is important because Felipe VI has still not had the chance to meet the new Saudi monarch and because "we share many strategic global scenarios and economic interests".

On another note, the Government Spokesperson described "the decision to delay holding the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona until 2018 as a "good decision based on common sense" and announced that the government will form part of the organising committee.