Christmas and climate change

This year, Christmas has arrived in Madrid earlier than ever. But time isn’t going faster, the government has simply brought things forward. The City of Madrid and Vigo were the first to light up their streets with a larger budget for illuminations than last year. The display includes several new items, including the giant ball that can be seen on Gran Vía.

The Jardín Botánico has also been lit up for the first time this year, attracting a multitude of curious visitors.

Tickets for Naviluz, the bus put on by EMT to help the elderly and children travel around the main illuminated streets, has taken off to a great success, as it does every year.

And for the first time in 2019, Doña Manolita has modernised and digitalised the waiting system for its famous queue. Now you can receive a message on your phone when your turn is within 15 minutes. This way, you can use the time to take a stroll around the city, instead of having to stand outside of the lottery vendor on Calle del Carmen.

But if there is one thing that has been in the news this December, it’s the Climate Change Summit. Organised in just one month, picking up the reins from Chile, the summit has turned Madrid into the centre of worldwide attention.

IFEMA hosted the important event, the last meeting until 2020, which was aimed at ensuring that countries that have signed the Paris Agreement make more ambitious commitments to reducing emissions.

Thousands of people from all corners of the planet visited the capital over the course of the 15-day summit. Many took part in the activities the city prepared to promote it, as well as enjoying Madrid’s traditional and pre-Christmas events.

Categories: Madrid Eventos