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What world leaders are saying about COP 25 (in tweets)

At this year's COP 25 climate conference in Madrid, Spain, global leaders have been tweeting their impressions and taking a stand for climate action.

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While we can’t all be in Spain for the two-week event in person, world leaders are using the power of Twitter to keep us up to date. What better way to catch up on all that’s happening than with social media?

Here’s eight of the top tweets about the COP 25 conference:

1. Trees, farming, and agriculture – oh my!


While COP 25 was originally supposed to take place in Chile, it was moved to Madrid, but the South American country still had a large presence at the event. Chile’s minister of agriculture, Antonio Walker Prieto, announced on Twitter that the climate talks had been going well for discussions on agriculture, forestry, and exports.

2. Saving the oceans one step at a time

The newly elected president of COP 25, Carolina Schmidt, who is Chile’s minister of the environment, took a stand to protect the oceans with Prince Albert II of Monaco, Chilean Minister of Science, Technology, and Knowledge Andrés Couve Correa, and Paul Watkinson. Schmidt announced that the trio had launched a new platform for scientists that seeks to integrate ocean measures in their NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions).

3. A call for leadership

Patricia Espinosa, the executive secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, used her speech to ask the world leaders in front of her to take action.

"The window of opportunity is closing now. On both a professional and personal level, my message to you is this: We need your decisions. We need your leadership. We are out of time." She used her platform to take a stand, speaking about the impacts of the climate crisis that can already be seen and felt. Let’s hope her speech inspired some leaders to act!

4. Committing to carbon neutrality

We were so excited to see our founder and chairman, former US Vice President Al Gore, meet with the president of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. Vice President Gore used the opportunity to praise President Sánchez on his leadership in the climate fight, and on the country’s energy transition plan, which is a commitment for the country of Spain to be carbon neutral by 2050 and cut emissions by 90 percent.

5. Standing up for human rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet met with Greta Thunberg, arguably the most popular attendee at COP 25. The two discussed the importance of fighting for human rights while fighting the climate crisis and ensuring that youth voices are heard in the movement. Both Thunberg and Bachelet agreed that the final resolutions of COP 25 must include equal rights and opportunity for women, youth, and indigenous and marginalized peoples.

6. Taking a stand

Italy had a strong presence in Madrid as well. Italian Minister of Education, University and Research Lorenzo Fioramonti attended the conference to take a stand for the students in the movement. His speech focused on what adults and the world leaders at COP 25 could do for students, including his very exciting mention of the Italian government approving a law to include mandatory climate science education in schools, starting next year.

7. Youth on the world stage

COP 25 took a thrilling turn when dozens of youth activists from around the world took to the stage to demand climate action, with chants such as:

“What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!” Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN’s Environment Program, captured this incredible moment on video – and we highly recommend you watch it!

8. Greta. Need we say more?

Last, but certainly not least, Greta Thunberg, the world’s most famous climate activist and TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year, took to the stage to speak directly to those in charge of making change. Thunberg is known for her moving speeches that tug at the heartstrings and hold those in power accountable for their inaction, and she did not disappoint. “We do not have to wait, we can start the change right now. We, the people.” Want to see Thunberg’s full speech? Check it out here.

Join the climate fight

Needless to say, based on the tweets, COP 25 was eventful and full of calls for action! We can’t wait to see what happens in the final week of the event and we hope that you were inspired to take climate action yourself.

Want to find out how to join the climate fight? Join us at our next Climate Reality Leadership Corps training event and become a Climate Reality Leader.

Like these incredible world leaders and activists, you have the power to make a change in the world – and we can help you take that first step.