Speech by Acting President of the Government at event entitled 'Climate Week NYC 2019'

New York

Good day, thank you very much. It is an honour and a pleasure to be here taking part in the inaugural session of the 2019 Climate Week in New York. Allow me to be very clear from the outset. We are facing a climate emergency and we are running out of time to deal with it; however, something has drastically changed this year. Over the course of 2019, we have heard the loud and clear voices of millions of young people, even children, from around the world who want to tell the truth. They demand we take responsibility as leaders and tackle this climate and ecological crisis, and highlight the consequences for the generations to come if we do not do something now. This is the reason why I am here today, to tell the truth, and to declare this climate and ecological emergency that requires urgent action. Given the circumstances, are we going to choose to act with the necessary urgency or are we going to sit back with our arms folded? I think the answer should be quite clear. I want my country to be a party to this change; I want to take part in the upcoming actions to contribute to that and I am willing to head up this common effort for the benefit of our children and for those to come.

We are asked to reverse all the effects of climate change that have taken place in our lifetime, with food security and economic growth. We are urged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil fuels so as not to run the risk of collapsing the bio-diversity. They are concerned that we are taking our planet to the limit and that perhaps there is no way back, as seen in this summer's wildfires, aggravated by agricultural pressure and by the climate change in the Amazon, in Siberia and in Africa. Global trade is in danger and needs our aid for the welfare of the planet, which is why we must become more ambitious in our actions, and this has never before been as critical as now. We have a framework - the Paris Agreement - we have a very powerful tool - multilateralism - but there is still a lot to do if we want to meet our commitments and comply with the responsibilities incumbent on us. Firstly, we need a 21st Century approach to multilateralism that responds to the reality effectively, multilateralism based on a shared responsibility to achieve peace that achieves the global change required to protect this common asset, rules that allow for ecological protection and which, at the same time, lead to economic progress and prosperity in the 21st Century. Dear friends, this new multilateral global governance begins today with the specific commitments that we are going to take on to ensure that the global temperature drops by 1.5 degrees. The financial sectors are taking the initiative because businesses have a great responsibility to do so. We have seen many countries where the financial sectors are starting to disclose information on exposure to climate change and the risks associated therewith. This is a very positive measure that must be bedded down at a global level, but much more needs to be done in the mean time. The second phase, in my opinion, is to ensure that we can establish ecological goals in investment plans, with the idea being to align investment with climate and ecological targets. Lastly, governments must take on responsibility as the catalysts for the transition we need. We must show clear leadership in applying specific policies, measures, financial tools that send out long-term signals with very ambitious responses in terms of reducing carbon emissions and achieving climate neutrality by the year 2050. Governments must show a true commitment to halt climate change. Spain is fully committed to this; we have taken the step of outlining our climate framework, which I have described as the National Green Deal Plan.

This is a plan that has received praise at an EU level, due to its ambition, its credibility and its quality, and it is the foundation for a carbon neutral economy by 2050 in an effective and economically profitable fashion.

We want to achieve a 20% reduction in our carbon emissions. This requires a significant effort - one in every three tonnes of greenhouse gas emitted must be avoided; to achieve this, we must focus on promoting renewable energies. We want 74% of electricity by 2030 to come from this type of source to ensure 100% renewable energies by the year 2050. This is a tremendous challenge, but also a great opportunity, as a result of the measures included in the framework, some 236 billion euros will be mobilised in public-private partnerships. The impact on jobs is also very promising; around 364,000 new jobs will be created between 2021 and 2030.

Our national commitment is well recognised internationally, a good example of which is the petition by the Secretary-General to lead, together with Peru, the coalition on rivers prior to the Climate Summit that which now starts here at the United Nations, so dear friends, the current climate crisis requires very brave action right now, not tomorrow, not next week or in five weeks' time. The next decade is crucial for guaranteeing we make progress towards decarbonisation worldwide that is compatible with the Paris targets, that is all we are asking for, our young people are asking for this, for decisive and ambitious actions. Spain has taken this path, it has done so with a full commitment in the awareness of what is at stake; we need our plan to resist for the generations to come, we have their future in our hands, we have the chance and a great responsibility to give shape to the future that we want to see, without leaving anyone behind. Thank you very much.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)

Non official translation