Spanish President Pedro Sánchez stated at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, that climate change has claimed over 20,000 lives in Spain in five years. He highlighted the DANA floods in Valencia and defended Spain's energy transition model as a growth driver. He also called for elections in the Valencian Community to break the climate denialist majority.
During the second day of the climate summit in Belém, in the Brazilian Amazon, Pedro Sánchez spoke at the leaders' meeting organized by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Spanish leader detailed the severity of the climate emergency, noting that “climate change kills and increasingly so. It has claimed over 20,000 lives in Spain in five years,” referencing the DANA floods in Valencia that killed 229 people and heatwaves.
Sánchez declared: “To those who believe in science: you can count on Spain,” and stressed that climate change “not only kills, but impoverishes,” with 44 billion euros in losses in the EU over three years. He defended the green transition: “In Spain we believe in the green transition as a growth engine. Our economy is one of the fastest-growing in the EU. We are demonstrating that it is possible to grow while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Renewables already generate more electricity than coal”.
He announced that Spain and other countries will tax premium class flights and private jets more: “It is fair that those who earn more and pollute more pay more”. He also confirmed a 45 million euro contribution to international agencies fighting climate change.
Lula urged leaders to show “courage and ambition,” calling for a roadmap to end fossil fuel dependence. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regretted the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and supported fossil fuel independence for growth.
From Belém, Sánchez called for elections in the Valencian Community after Carlos Mazón's resignation, criticizing the PP and Vox “climate denialist majority”: “Over 230 people have suffered from that negligence and denialism”. He expressed confidence in negotiating with Junts to complete the legislature until 2027, highlighting Spain's strong moment with leading EU fund execution.
The EU agreed to cut emissions by 90% by 2040. Sánchez will then travel to the EU-CELAC summit in Colombia.