Green Madrid
Madrid , a city committed to the environment
M adrid is committed to the environment . Its green spaces , parks , gardens and trees are a big factor in the quality of life of the capital ’ s residents and visitors .
The city ’ s environmental commitment was reflected in the approval of the Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy in 2019 . That includes measures for fostering the creation of green infrastructure and lowcarbon urban renewal methods . A destination full of green spaces Over 55 % of Madrid ’ s streets are tree-lined , and 300,000 trees are helping improve the city ’ s air quality and making it the world ’ s second-leafiest city in terms of tree-lined streets .
In 2023 , the capital was once again named a Tree City of the World , a distinction awarded to 200 cities worldwide . This recognition further cements Madrid ’ s environmental commitment through the initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations ( FAO ) and the Arbor Day Foundation , which promotes good practices raises awareness of the importance of trees .
A rich natural heritage With more than 200 parks , gardens , and natural spaces , Madrid has a large range of options for enjoying a healthy , outdoor lifestyle . One of them is El Retiro Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city . Another is Madrid Río Park , which stretches for ten kilometres along the banks of the River Manzanares and is a great place for group activities , exercising and admiring the ecological restoration carried out in the area which has led to the return of numerous species . Casa de Campo Park is also close by , offering over 1,500 hectares for sports and recreation .
Madrid is also developing new green
Photo : Madrid Destino spaces like the Metropolitan Forest , which will be a 75km green belt around the city featuring wide open spaces .
PLUS platform Madrid ’ s strong commitment to environmental protection is reflected in Madrid Convention Bureau developing the MICE Sustainability Guide and the digital platform PLUS ( Platform for Legacy with US ) for event organisers . The latter is a pioneering initiative in Spain which helps organisers effectively manage the sustainability and legacy of their events , in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) set out in the UN ’ s 2030 Agenda .
The platform was recently improved and allows specific sustainability reports to be created for every meeting hosted in Madrid , including recommendations which can be implemented before the meetings are held to minimise their environmental and social impact . After an event finishes , the platform can also be used to calculate its carbon footprint .
And it is now possible to classify the scope of the related emissions ( Scope 1 : Direct emissions ; Scope 2 : Indirect emissions ; and Scope 3 : Supply chain emissions ).
Positive impact Another of Madrid Convention Bureau ’ s objectives is to support associations and private organisations that want their conferences or events to contribute to instituting change in the city . An increasing number of associations and companies are aligning their missions and visions with the objectives of the locations where they hold their events . Madrid Convention Bureau aims to be a key point of liaison to ensure that meetings held in the city leave a positive footprint .
To this end , the PLUS platform provides organisers with a catalogue of social entities in Madrid and actions with a positive impact which can be selected for their meetings ’ agendas . n n esmadrid . com / mcb
16 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 133