MADRID — Spain’s interim leader has offered to have Madrid host an international U.N. climate summit next month that was originally scheduled to be held in Chile.
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera on Wednesday cancelled plans to host the Dec. 2-13 climate gathering, as well as a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, to focus on restoring security in his riot-struck country.
A statement Thursday from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s office said he offered the space because he understands why the Chilean government needs to prioritize its “national social agenda” and how pressed organizers of the COP25 meeting are, given the last-minute switch.
Sánchez, a Socialist, is trying to stay in power as Spain holds a general election on Nov. 10.
Spain said U.N. officials will consider Spain’s proposal at their meeting in Bonn, Germany, next week.
___
Follow AP’s full coverage of climate change issues at https://www.apnews.com/Climate
The Associated Press
