Meet in Madrid: A city where nature and innovation lead the way

Madrid’s parks, gardens and low-carbon urban renewal strategies play a key role in te quality of life for both residents and visitors. And increasingly the city is looking to work in partnership with events to continue to improve the environment.

In 2019, the Madrid 360 Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy was approved, reflecting the city’s impressive commitment to the environment. Including measures aimed at adapting to climate change, it also promotes the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency plans, managing water resources, cutting emissions and waste, and encouraging sustainable transport.

These measures also seek to foster the creation of green infrastructure and low-carbon urban renewal methods.

A destination with a wealth of green spaces

Madrid’s trees are one of the city’s greatest assets. More than half of its streets are tree-lined, with nearly 300,000 trees helping to improve the capital’s air quality, making Madrid home to the world’s second-leafiest streets.

Madrid was recently renamed a Tree City of the World, a distinction awarded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation, which promotes good practices and acts to raise awareness of the importance of trees and their care.

A rich natural heritage

With more than 200 parks, gardens and natural spaces covering almost 6,400 hectares, Madrid offers countless outdoor settings to enjoy. 

One standout is El Retiro Park, an historical treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the capital. Another is Madrid Río Park, which stretches for ten kilometres along the banks of the River Manzanares, the ideal place for group activities and admiring the area’s ecological restoration, which has led to the return of numerous species. Casa de Campo Park is also very close by. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) and offering more than 1,500 hectares for leisure, sports, outdoor activities and events.

Madrid is also developing new green spaces such as the Metropolitan Forest – a planned 75km green belt around the city featuring vast open areas.

PLUS platform

Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) has developed the MICE Sustainability Guide and digital platform PLUS for event organisers. This pioneering initiative in Spain has been designed to help organisers effectively manage the social and environmental sustainability of their events in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

The tool was recently upgraded and enables the creation of specific sustainability reports for every meeting in the city, including recommendations that can be implemented in the planning stage to minimise environmental and social impact. After the event comes to a close, the platform can also be used to calculate its carbon footprint.

A major enhancement is that the platform can now classify emissions by scope (Scope 1: direct emissions; Scope 2: indirect emissions; and Scope 3: supply chain emissions).

Meetings with a mission

Another of MCB’s objectives is to be a key point of liaison to support companies that want to ensure their conferences and events help bring about positive change in the city.

To assist with this, the PLUS platform provides organisers with a catalogue of social organisations in the city they can work with to meet their local legacy goals.

Gathering in Madrid, exploring the city on foot, enjoying the fresh air and leaving a positive legacy are just some of the city’s attractions for meetings and events that prioritise sustainability - knowing that together we can build a greener future for Madrid and the planet.

Discover more information on hosting events in Madrid here.

This article is brought to you by Madrid Convention Bureau.