MADRID COP25, AN EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS IN AN INCREDIBLE SCENARIO
The Madrid COP25 opened to the public Monday December 2, for 11 days of reflection about climate change, in the presence of governments, NGOs and experts from all around the world. It was no easy task to carry out the organization of the event. Indeed, it was initially to be held in Chile but was relocated at the very last moment to Spain. We equipped in audiovisual and energy a large part of the conference rooms, press areas, common areas, pavilions & delegation offices.
Looking back on several months of surprises but technical and logistical exploits as well :
THE TENSIONS IN CHILE FORCED ITS GOVERNEMENT TO GIVE UP THE COP25
In recent weeks, Chile has gone through a period of high socio-political and economic instability. The country recorded numerous violent confrontations between police officers and demonstrators particularly denouncing the great social inequalities they are facing. The new measures taken by the government in response to these violent demonstrations have unfortunately not yet eased tensions. Given this situation, the Chilean government had no other choice but to cancel the holding of COP25 on its territory. On October 30th, only 33 days before the start of the event, and while the installation and assembly of equipment for the infrastructure were almost finalized in Santiago, the question of cancelling the COP25 completely was on everyone's mind.
SPAIN OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
The announcement of the Chilean government had an impact on a planetary scale. In fact, the calendar of governments and NGOs participating in the event was totally disrupted and numerous service provider teams that were already on site were interrupted. Faced with this situation, it was the Spanish government that showed great responsiveness by offering an alternative solution the day after the official cancellation announcement. Indeed, Spain made its capital available to host this international gathering and allow the event to be held on the days it was initially scheduled (December 2 to 13, 2019). Therefore, it was finally Madrid that hosted the 25th edition of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.
THE EVENT WAS SAVED BY EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SKILL
With less than a month left, Spain had to take on the challenge of ensuring the smooth running of the initial COP25 programming. However, the scenario facing the 25th edition of this worldwide event was unprecedented and the installation of this relocated COP in the northern hemisphere represented a huge logistical and technical challenge for our teams and all the providers involved.
Paul Watkinson, a member of the UNFCCC board, said, "It is almost a miracle to be able to organize in one month what other countries usually do in a little less than a year. Spain is making an extraordinary effort to make the COP25 happen. "
The managers of the site mobilized all their suppliers and orchestrated the work of more than 1,500 people who set up, equipped and out fitted the 113,000 m2 of space, thereby ensuring the opening of the seven dedicated pavilions. The Spanish capital also recruited in just a few days more than 400 Spanish volunteers, who helped the 200 volunteers already sent by the United Nations. Eduardo Lopez-Puertas, Director General of IFEMA, described this extraordinary situation in one sentence: "It is madness, yes, but a very beautiful madness. "
Thus, our teams took on the difficult challenge of equipping the various pavilions and stands of NGOs and countries, and of installing all the audiovisual equipment necessary for the smooth running of this event:
- 307 speakers
- 124 HF microphones
- 1,281 conference stations
- 27 double and triple translation booths
- 5,000 headsets and translation receivers
- 502 LCD screens
- 31 video projectors
Thanks to the involvement of all our teams, who ensured the dismantling of the installation in Santiago Chile, the logistical transportation organization, the technical recommendations and the preparation of the equipment from our premises in Brignais. Our teams also set up and operated in Madrid in record time and the COP25 was able to open on time and bring together state leaders, many country representatives, NGOs and experts to discuss the major current climate issues.
The event website: https://unfccc.int/fr/cop25