United Nations senior officials and delegates give opening statements on the first day of the 2019 Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid, Spain. A key objective of COP25 is to take the next crucial steps in the UN climate change process as the global climate emergency intensifies and greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow. 

COP25 runs from December 2 to 13 under the Presidency of the Government of Chile and is held with logistical support from the Government of Spain. It aims to raise overall ambition by completing several key aspects with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Other focus areas at COP25 will include adaptation, loss and damage, transparency, finance, capacity-building, Indigenous issues, oceans, forestry, gender and more.