Getting outside in leafy Madrid

What comes to mind when you think of Madrid? Fabulous art? Magnificent buildings? Relaxed outdoor dining with delicious food and wine? Spain’s capital has all this, of course, but it is also once again a Tree City of the World – and its leafy streets and elegant parks are attracting the eye of eco-conscious event planners

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Sponsored by Madrid Convention Bureau

Palacio Real and Top Roof 101 (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)

More than half of Madrid’s streets are lined with trees, making it the world’s second leafiest city. Helping to improve the quality of air and life for its visitors and citizens, Madrid has once again been named a Tree City of the World, one of only 200 around the globe.

Committed to improving the environment, the Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy was approved in 2019. It includes measures to help adapt to climate change, foster renewable energy and energy efficiency, manage water resources, reduce emissions and waste, and promote sustainable transport.

The measures also seek to create green infrastructure and support low-carbon urban renewal.

Through an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation, the city is also promoting good practices and activities to raise awareness of the importance of trees and caring for them. Madrid is home to more than 300,000 trees.

El Retiro Park – encourage participants to get outside and discover Madrid’s lovely parks (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)

The glorious El Retiro Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)

ADDING WELLNESS TO EVENT PROGRAMMES

With more than 200 parks, gardens and green spaces totalling almost 6,400 hectares, Madrid offers a huge variety of opportunities for getting outdoors.

*Fun ways to enjoy the city’s green spaces (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)*

*Fun ways to enjoy the city’s green spaces (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)*

The lovely El Retiro Park, for instance, is an historical treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city. Madrid Río Park stretches for ten kms along the banks of the River Manzanares and is a great place for group activities, walking, exercising and admiring the ecological restoration that has led to the return of numerous species. Casa de Campo Park, an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), offers more than 1,500 hectares for leisure, sports and recreation.

Madrid is also developing new green spaces including the Metropolitan Forest, which will be a 75-km-long green belt around the city.

PLUS PLATFORM

To help support event organisers and the city’s strong commitment to environmental protection, Madrid Convention Bureau has developed the MICE Sustainability Guide and PLUS (Platform for Legacy with US). The digital platform is a pioneering initiative in Spain helping organisers to 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.

*Parque Del Capricho (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)*

*Parque Del Capricho (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)*

The Platform can now create sustainability reports for every meeting hosted in the city together with recommendations that can be implemented to minimise environmental and social impact and calculate its carbon footprint.

Another feature of the platform is the Directory of Social Organisations:

It has been designed to help organisers looking to connect with social entities in the city as part of a programme, ensuring their event has a positive impact and leaves a lasting legacy in the host city.

Together we can build a greener future for Madrid and for the planet.

*Plaza del Rey in the Salesas neighbourhood (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)*

*Plaza del Rey in the Salesas neighbourhood (Photo credit: Madrid Destino)*

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_{All pictures courtesy of Madrid Destino}