COP25, which was scheduled to take place in Santiago, Chile (2-13 December), is seeking a host country after Chilean President Sebastian Piñera decided not to host the climate conference due to demonstrations in his country amidst a social crisis.
The announcement of what he called a “painful” decision occurred on Wednesday 30 October, taking everyone by surprise. However, the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU is determined to ensure that this climate conference is held.
Finland’s Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Krista Mikkonen, said on Thursday 31 October: “It’s very unfortunate that Chile will not be able to host the UN Climate meeting as planned. As the holder of the EU Council Presidency, we will do our utmost to ensure that the COP25 will take place”.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening by the spokeswoman of the European External Action Service, the EU took note of the “cancellation of the COP25 and APEC summits”.
Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, for his part, retweeted the UN announcement without comment. “I was informed of the decision by the Government of Chile not to host COP25 in view of the difficult situation that the country is undergoing. We are currently exploring alternative hosting options”, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said on Wednesday afternoon.
The German Secretary of State for the Environment, Jochen Flasbarth, announced that he was “in contact with the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Polish Presidency of COP24 to discuss the situation”.
The GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament welcomed the cancellation in view of the violent repression of Chilean demonstrators.
Postponing COP25 has not been excluded. Concerned NGOs, including Greenpeace and CAN Europe (Climate Action Network), pointed out that climate change isn’t waiting and reminded Mr Pinera of the need for “climate justice”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)