José Andrés joins us in advocating for climate action ahead of COP25
Chef and philanthropist José Andrés spoke at our COP25 preview event organized together with the Embassy of Spain, the Embassy of Chile, the World Resources Institute, and the Global Covenant of Mayors on November 19, 2019.
It was with a sense of urgency that the Ambassador of Chile, Alfonso Silva Navarro, addressed the audience of energy and climate experts gathered at the Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain on November 19. 2019. The event was organized to give a preview of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid, Spain, under the presidency of Chile.
Celebrity chef José Andrés, renowned not only for his role as a talented chef and entrepreneur but also for his World Central Kitchen NGO, talked about the way in which his organization is providing food to victims of natural disasters. But he also stated that these relief efforts are only short term solutions for populations who are most vulnerable to climate change. Emission reduction should be the primary focus point of climate action.
“In a way, climate change seems a problem that has to be solved, but actually, it is also an opportunity for the planet. A lot of great things can happen if we start acting now” says José Andrés.
As a chef, he sees himself as someone who can educate people on sustainable methods of cooking. He hopes that we can make methods of ‘clean cooking’ (a food chain that is more sustainable) more accessible to people in developing countries.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of Spain Santiago Cabanas highlighted the need to act now and the need for a “renewed multilateral commitment and diplomacy”. He also pointed to the strong activism and support of the Spanish people in the fight against climate change and expressed his full confidence that the COP25 will be successful. “Because really, we can afford nothing less”, he insisted, underlining the importance of the issue.
The Ambassador of Chile added that the COP25 will be a space for discussion and a unique opportunity “to impact the quality of life of people around the world”.
The Ambassador of the European Union, Stavros Lambridinis, spoke of the commitment of the European Union in leading the fight against climate change. In fact, he pointed out that the EU has dedicated the majority of the world’s funding for climate mitigation funds. “Working to mitigate the effects of climate change is not killing competitiveness; it is driving it”, he stressed.
“We would love the U.S. to be the leader in the fight against climate change. The EU hopes that the United States, Congress and the Administration, in addition to Mayors and Governors, will also choose to take the lead with us” — Ambassador of the European Union, Stavros Lambridinis.
David Waskow, director of the World Resources Institute’s International Climate initiative, discussed how he sees Charles Dickens’ novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ as an analogy for the current state of the planet. When discussing how the effects of climate change have become more and more apparent in recent years, Waskow said: “I think that today we are clearly seeing some of the worst of times.” But in a way, he also sees today being some of the best of times when he thinks about how many people are taking action to demand climate action, such as the youth climate strikers around the world. He hopes that during the COP25, political leaders will take inspiration from this and establish how they will implement their countries’ pledges under the Paris Agreement into concrete legislation and actions.
“Perhaps we can label this COP the ‘can-do’ COP” Waskow said.
During the panel discussion, Maximiliano Bello, member of Chile’s Presidential Commission for the COP25, agreed with Waskow’s idea that the unprecedented public demand for climate action is the keystone of climate action. “I think it demonstrates how much civil society wants to be part of this”,he said. But Bernice van Bronkhorst, Global Director of Climate Change at the World Bank mentioned that it is crucial to not only focus on those already engaged in climate action, but also to hear the voices of those for whom climate action will bring about difficulties.
“At this COP, we need to think about inclusion and to listen to those who do not feel part of this process” — Bernice van Bronkhorst
The COP25 will allow for an opportunity for the world to truly commit to the Paris Agreement through taking multilateral action. While it is absolutely necessary to further take concrete action on a legislative level, it is just as important to allow and enable people for whom climate action will mean drastic changes in their daily lives to become part of the fight against climate change as well. The European Union is ready for this fight, and encourages the rest of the world, including the U.S., to join in.
Learn more about the EU’s work in climate action:
The EU Steps Up its Cooperation with the U.S. Climate Alliance
Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
EU Now Podcast: “Are Cities the Frontrunners of Climate Action?”
