Madrid's town hall said Thursday smog levels have dropped enough to allow the city to end unprecedented restrictions it had announced on vehicle circulation.

City environment councilor Ines Sabanes said Thursday's ban on vehicles with plates ending in an even number will not be extended.

Other measures, including a ban on street parking for non-residents and reduced speed limits, will continue.

Madrid ordered the traffic limits, a first for a Spanish city, due to excess levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air.

Environmental activists and many of Madrid's residents welcomed the move as a step towards tackling pollution.

Sabanes said weather conditions continued to be bad, mainly due to a lack of rain and wind, and authorities would continue to monitor the situation.

Madrid - 29 December 2016

1. Various of Madrid skyline with smog visible

2. Traffic

3. Various of police forces controlling traffic and checking number plates

4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Garcia Vicente, Member of environmentalist group Ecologistas en Accion (Ecologists in Action, an NGO umbrella organisation of more than 300 environmentalist groups):

"Well, this plan tries to ease the situation, or in our case to increase the awareness of the citizens because here we have a serious health and environmental issue. And I think through such measures they'll be able to achieve this. The citizens will accept this. The important thing is that this should be the first step toward measures that will be able to decrease the level of pollution in a categorical way, measures that won't be another anecdote (in this effort)."

5. Various of air quality monitoring station in central Madrid

6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Garcia Vicente, Member of environmentalist group Ecologistas en Accion:

"One vehicle should not be used only for one person, there should be three or four people (inside each car), just like any other city in the world, and this logic has already been adopted in many other European cities, we've already seen it, there are people who share a car-ride, as well there are taxi stops for three people who are using (the same taxi to arrive to nearby destinations). This might be surprising but it is true. These measures might be minimal but once planted inside people's minds they will change their behaviour. There should be an understanding between the leaders and the society, otherwise this won't work."

7. People leaving metro station

8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Agustin Rodrigo, Madrid resident:

"I think it is really good. There is a lot of pollution and then there are people who are using their cars to even go and buy bread, basically there are people who are taking their cars out just for the sake of it, just because it is comfortable and I think the decision of Madrid's mayor (to limit the circulation of vehicles) is really good."

9. Various of young man using city bikes to commute

10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rocio Lechuga, Madrid resident:

"I think it (the measure in place) could have been even stricter. Because I think the level of Madrid's (air) contamination has gone beyond normal, but I think to get started, it is a good idea."

11. Metro station entrance

12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Mabel Maldonano, Madrid resident:

"I think this is awful. Because we cannot enter (the city with our cars). There is a lot of traffic. It feels like...I don't like it. I really don't like the way they did it."

13. Traffic

14. Various of police controlling traffic and checking number plates

SHOTLIST

1. Various of hazy Madrid skyline

2. Various of traffic

3. Wide of Retiro park

4. Mid of jogger running

5. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Vox Pop, Madrid resident (no name given)

"Yes, my nose is very dry and it is harder to breath. But you've got to keep fit."

6. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Vox Pop, Madrid resident (no name given)

"I have bronchial problems, I haven't noticed anything. I was thinking great I'm going to the Retiro with fresh air and then I hear the news. I hadn't noticed it."

7. Man cycling

8. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Vox Pop, Madrid resident (no name given)

"I haven't noticed anything, but my wife does, she says she feels like she has asthma. She says she notices the pollution but I don't."

9. Wide of jogger running

10. Various of exterior of La Paz Hospital

11. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Dr Ana Prados, Lung Specialist:

"(The pollution) worsens respiratory complaints because the atmosphere is not clean. This may lead to the conditions worsening. A second problem is the size of the particle. If the particle is between 3 and 5 micros this may cause respiratory problems because they attach to the respiratory system."

12. Wide of protest by Ecologists in Action group

13. Mid of protesters wearing masks

14. Wide of protester handing out leaflet

15. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Paco Segura, Ecologists in Action:

"We are protesting by the air and noise pollution station that has shown the worst levels of pollution over the last two weeks. We are warning the public about the bad air quality and the serious problems that this has for their health."

16. Various of protesters on the ground beneath sign reading: "less smoke, less CO2"

STORYLINE:

The levels of nitrogen dioxide measured in centre of Madrid on Thursday night were over 6 times the amount permitted by the European Union, according to authorities.

For over two weeks the air quality in the Spanish capital has been below of what is accepted by the EU.

A layer of smog or "boina" had developed across the Madrid skyline.

According to environmental group Ecologists in Action this high level of NO2 is due to the traffic that fills Madrid streets.

Over a million vehicles are estimated to drive through Madrid on any given day.

Ecologists believe that there is a direct link between traffic pollution and an increase in respiratory problems.

The Madrid City council has called for the public not to exercise in the open air over the last few days.

The Retiro park is the principal green space in the centre of Madrid. A jogger at the park said she noticed the poor air quality.

"Yes, my nose is very dry and it is harder to breath. But you've got to keep fit."

But another woman said she hadn't noticed anything until now.

"I have bronchial problems, I haven't noticed anything. I was thinking great I'm going to the Retiro with fresh air and then I hear the news. I hadn't noticed it."

One man said he didn't feel the change but his wife complained about the polluted air.

"I haven't noticed anything, but my wife does, she says she feels like she has asthma. She says she notices the pollution but I don't."

The city council has blamed the air pollution on a front of air from Africa, carrying high densities of dust.

At Madrid's La Paz hospital, Doctor Ana Prados a specialist in respiratory conditions said that the pollution worsen respiratory problems.

"(The pollution) worsens respiratory complaints because the atmosphere is not clean. This may lead to the conditions worsening. A second problem is the size of the particle. If the particle is between 3 and 5 micros this may cause respiratory problems because they attach to the respiratory system."

Wearing masks and white anti-bacterial suits the group Ecologists in Action demonstrated against the poor air quality in central Madrid.

Next to an air quality measure station in the Recoletos Avenue, the environmentalists dispensed leaflets to warn people of what they see as the dangers of air contamination.

"We are protesting by the air and noise pollution station that has shown the worst levels of pollution over the last two weeks. We are warning the public about the bad air quality and the serious problems that this has for their health," said Paco Segura, from Ecologists in Action.

Madrid activated a new traffic restriction system Friday in an attempt to reduce pollution in the city.

Madrid Central established a low-emissions zone of 472 hectares (4.72 kilometres).

Petrol vehicles before 2000 and diesel ones registered before 2006 are banned from this central area.

Drivers will not be fined on Friday - the first day the restrictions were implemented.

Municipal Police were warning drivers of the new restrictions.

Residents and those owning a garage will be allowed to enter but will have to change their more polluting vehicles by 2025.  

Hybrid vehicles will be allowed into the area to park for a maximum of two hours.

Madrid council wants to cut nitrogen dioxide levels by 23% by 2020.

Pensioner Maria Jose Tirado has lived in the centre of Madrid all her life and said she was happy with the new restrictions.

For small business and shop owners the new restrictions however could affect their business.

Ana Venegas is the owner of a family run framing business centre of the new zone.

Venegas said there was a need for tighter controls but was concerned with how this may affect the shop.

Other European cities have tried different systems.

Athens has announced a complete ban by 2025, Paris brought in a system to ban all diesel cars between 8am to 8pm.

Madrid - 30 November 2018

1. Plaza de Cibeles square

2. Traffic control cameras

3. Traffic

4. Municipal Police stopping cars to inform them of new restrictions

5. Various of red lines on roads to mark new restrictive zone

6. Banners reading (Spanish): "Madrid Central - Enjoy Madrid"

7. Police trying to stop car

8. Madrid Central logo on road

9. Various of police officers stopping cars to inform of new restrictions

10. Madrid Central logo on the street

11. Cars driving over red lines

12. Banners reading (Spanish): "Madrid Central - Breathes Madrid"

13. Empty street inside Madrid Central zone

14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria Jose Tirado, Madrid resident:

"There are many people who have breathing problems and many of them die on the days that there are high levels of pollution. So, therefore, it is beneficial for everyone. Also the streets belong to people. I always say to my friends that the streets are not elastic, no more cars can fit in."

15. Exterior of framing and mirror shop

16. Various of shop owner Ana Venegas preparing frame for print

17. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ana Venegas, shop owner:

"We agree that it should be implemented but not on the terms it is being done. This is going to affect us a lot, both our suppliers and customers. The suppliers are not going to be able to enter, our materials are very large and they are not going to be able to bring them to us. We are now obliged to offer an additional free delivery service for our customers to send them their purchases."

18. Restrictions information sign

19. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Javier Santos, deliveryman:

"This is a mess, for those of us who work in the centre it is a huge problem. But that's the way it is, this is what our mayor wants."

20. Red lines

21. Restrictions information board

22. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria (No surname given), driver:

"I don't think that this is good, I have a business so what about my suppliers?"

23. Traffic red lines

24. Pedestrians crossing street

SHOTLIST:

1. Various wide shots of hazy city skyline

2. Various street scenes

3. Set-up shot of Encarnacion de Vega, Environmental Services, Madrid City Hall, working in her office

4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Encarnacion de Vega, Environmental Services, Madrid City Hall:

"As with any other pollution it affects the respiratory system so from City Hall we advise those who suffer any respiratory conditions to stay in closed places when these episodes happen and not to take any exercise on the open air."

5. Various of de Vega working on her computer

6. Close up of computer screen showing areas affected by Sahara sand

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Encarnacion de Vega, Environmental Services, Madrid City Hall:

"Spain is the closest country to the African continent, and these particles are formed in the north of Africa so it is the most affected country. We don't foresee other countries being affected and actually these past days there haven't been particles above other countries. Maybe it could happen in the areas which are closer to Spain, but it hasn't been the case. Oh, Portugal yes."

8. Set-up shot of Juan Garcia, Ecologists in Action, walking in park

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Garcia, Ecologists in Action:

"If we mix this with the pollution that exists in big cities, it is not the best thing we could ever have and we have to take the necessary precautions. This dust contributes to a general discomfort and a lessening of the quality of life and there are figures that shows that it even shortens people's lives."

10. Close up of wind vane

11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Garcia, Ecologists in Action:

"The European Environmental Agency estimates that, due to pollution, which includes the particles of dust coming from the Sahara, more than half a million people a year die prematurely."

12. Wide pan of hazy city skyline

STORYLINE

A cloud of Saharan dust blowing over Spain prompted Madrid City Council on Wednesday to issue an environmental alert for a second successive day.

Officials are concerned that toxic dust suspended in the cloud has adversely affected the Spanish capital's air quality.

"As with any other pollution it affects the respiratory system so from City Hall we advise those who suffer any breathing difficulties to stay in closed places when these episodes happen and not to take any exercise on the open air," said Encarnacion de Vega of Madrid City Hall.

The seasonal dry weather with little wind could result in the dust hanging over Madrid for some days.

Juan Garcia of the environmental pressure group "Ecologists in Action" believes the combination of the Sahara dust with the city's already poor air quality is a dangerous cocktail.

"The European Environmental Agency estimates that, due to pollution, which includes the particles of dust coming from the Sahara, more than half a million people a year die prematurely," he said.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4002874

Madrid Zoo celebrated the second birthday of their baby panda Xing Bao on Saturday.

The baby panda was born in captivity and his birthday coincides with the ones of his mother and father.

In the last two decades, conservation efforts have increased the number of pandas in their natural habitat.

There are currently 1,864 pandas in the wild and 375 pandas living in zoos and breeding centers compared to 1,100 recorded in the wild in the 1990s.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4002874

Madrid Zoo celebrated the second birthday of their baby panda Xing Bao on Saturday.

The baby panda was born in captivity and his birthday coincides with the ones of his mother and father.

In the last two decades, conservation efforts have increased the number of pandas in their natural habitat.

There are currently 1,864 pandas in the wild and 375 pandas living in zoos and breeding centers compared to 1,100 recorded in the wild in the 1990s.

AP TELEVISION

Madrid - 5 September 2015

1. Zoo keepers carrying a frozen "cake" for their baby panda Xing Bao's second birthday

2. Zoo keepers preparing cake

3. Baby panda walking with his mother

4. Panda eating cake

5. Panda looking through branches

6. Various of mother panda eating

7. Cutaway of people watching

8. Panda eating cake

9. Various of baby panda

Protestors demonstrate outside the British Embassy in Madrid, to protest against the dumping of nuclear waste in the Atlantic ocean.

1. ws crowd gathered round fire in street

2. ws girl using loudhailer (Spanish)

3. cu skull effigy, pan to anti-nuke sticker on Embassy gate, litter on ground, anti-nuke posters on wall

4. ws girl protestor throw rubbish (to symbolise the waste) over the British Embassy wall

5. ws leaflets thrown over Embassy compound wall

6. ms chanting

7. ws more chanting, pan to poster on wall

9. cu another poster, pan to litter

10. vs people throwing rubbish over Embassy wall.

Film: Rev - Sound: Mag SOF - Colour - NYFilm: No - LN Number: LN106566 - Available in HD

With piles of ice and snow still covering most streets of Madrid, the Spanish capital began Thursday grappling with the problem of garbage piled in the streets and the tens of thousands of trees damaged or wrenched up from the ground on sidewalks and in squares less than a week after Storm Filomena.

Madrid city on Thursday estimated Filomena caused 1.4 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in damages so far.

Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida told reporters the storm had damaged 150,000 trees.

Martínez-Almeida said the city calculated that 1,250 metric tons of snow (1,378 U.S. tons) fell nonstop for 30 hours during the peak of the storm Friday and Saturday, adding that it was Madrid’s heaviest snowfall in a century.

Fortunately, the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe, survived almost unscathed.

Garden conservationist Mariano Sanchez said just 36 of its many thousand trees suffered damage.

While most species in the collection survived intact, laboratory work would have to be done to save two special trees that were badly damaged, one a Chilean pepper tree from the 18th century.

Sanchez said it was sad to see his work for years in looking after trees and bushes almost dashed in a matter of hours but was glad that "the damage was not to excessive" in the garden.  

In the La Latina central district of Madrid dustbins were overflowing as the city's rubbish collection service was disrupted.

A mixture of recycling and biodegradable refuse was building up in recycling bins across the city.

Local resident Severine said that people need to be made aware and that the city hall was failing in communicating the need for people to keep hold of their rubbish until refuse collection can be restarted.

The mayor said garbage collections were back at full operation but it is likely to take several days for Madrid to regain its normal appearance.

Madrid - 14 January 2021

1. Close of sign for the Royal Botanical Garden before tilt to broken tree branches

2. Workers clearing fallen branches

3. Zoom in to worker up in cedar tree

4. Broken branch being lowered to ground

5. Snow and broken light display

6. Close of bird in tree

7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Mariano Sanchez, Conservator Royal Botanical Gardens:

"We have approximately 17 trees seriously affected but none have fallen over, we have 20 trees less seriously affected. In the case of large shrubs we have approximately 80 cut in half from the weight of the snow."

8. Plant bent over by weight of the snow

9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Mariano Sanchez, Conservator Royal Botanical Gardens:

"The truth is that it is sad to see all the trees that you have been looking after, you have pruned with much care. In an afternoon you lose all the work you have done with the pine trees and cedar tree that you have cared for so much."

10. Worker treating tree

11. Shrub covered in snow

12. Focus pull of tree

13. Bags of rubbish on icy pavement  

14. Wide of overfilled recycling bins

15. People walk past rubbish

16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Severine (no surname given), 34-year-old unemployed resident:

"Well it is two things: education and communication by the town hall which I don't think is reaching all the channels. Nearby the neighbours association is putting up signs asking people not to put out rubbish in the street as it won't be collected. I think people must be made aware but it needs communication."

17. Mid of bin full of rubbish

18. Woman dumping rubbish in pile by overfilled recycling bins

19. Full wastepaper bin near terrace

Activists of all ages and from all corners of the planet turned out in Madrid to tell political leaders and negotiators at a global summit in the Spanish capital that they need to take real action against climate change.

The march was led by dozens of representatives of Latin America's indigenous peoples, a deference by the local environmentalists after anti-government protests in Chile, the original host of the summit, led to a sudden move of the talks to Europe for the third year in a row.

Celebrity climate activist Greta Thunberg declared from a stage "the hope is not within the walls of the COP25, the hope is out here with you."

"The current world leaders are betraying us, and we will not let that happen anymore, we will not let them get away with it anymore," Thunberg said.

A crowd of thousands responded, chanting, "Greta! Greta!"

"We say 'enough now'! And change is coming, whether you like it or not," Thunberg added.

Organisers claimed 500,000 people turned out for the march, but authorities in Madrid put the number at 15,000 without an immediate explanation for the disparity in the count.

The Swedish teen was followed on her first day in Madrid by a swarm of cameras and reporters, as well as curious members of the public wanting to film her on their smartphones, from the very first step she took out of an overnight train from Lisbon.

Madrid – 6 December 2019

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg walking onto stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, climate activist:

"The hope is not within the walls of the COP25, the hope is out here with you."

3. Greta Thunberg standing on stage in front of cheering crowd

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, climate activist:

"The current world leaders are betraying us, and we will not let that happen anymore, we will not let them get away with it anymore. We say 'enough now'! And change is coming, whether you like it or not."

5. Cheering crowd

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, climate activist:

"And we need to continue, we need to keep the momentum going, and we need to lend our voices to the people of the global South and to indigenous people, who are suffering the most from the climate and environmental emergency."

7. Thunberg leaving

8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Javier Bardem, Spanish actor:

"Politicians must live up to this moment. From - forgive me, this is very personal - from that stupid Trump (US President Donald Trump) who leaves global agreements to - forgive me, this is also very personal - to that stupid Almeida (Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida) who wants to reverse Madrid Central and allow polluting vehicles to circulate through the capital."

9. Various of indigenous activists from South America protesting on stage

This year's international meeting on tackling climate change was meant to be a walk in the park compared to previous instalments.

Countries had planned to put the finishing touches to the rules governing the 2015 Paris accord, ironing out a few wrinkles left over from last December and setting the scene for a major review of their efforts next year.

But then Brazil pulled its offer of hosting the talks and stand-in Chile, rattled by anti-government protests, cancelled five weeks before the meeting.

President Donald Trump served formal notice that the United States was quitting the Paris accord, delivering a symbolic blow to one of his predecessor's signature achievements.

Scientists didn't have any good news either.

Study after study published in recent months has underscored the rapid pace of global warming and the urgent need to cut emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing it.

Against that backdrop, the December 2-13 meeting in Madrid has gained fresh urgency.

Organizers expect around 25,000 visitors, including heads of state, scientists, seasoned negotiators and activists to attend the two-week meeting.

The main items on the agenda include finalizing rules on global carbon markets and agreeing how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations.

Proposals to create a worldwide market for emissions permits have been around for decades.

The idea is that putting a price on carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, and gradually reducing the available permits will encourage countries and companies to cut their emissions, such as by shifting to renewable energy sources.

Scientists and activists say the time to act is now, if the world wants to meet the goal set in Paris of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C by the end of the century.

Madrid - 27 November 2019

1. Various of sign of COP25 Climate Change Conference - Chile Madrid 2019 outside conference venue

2. Spanish flag waving

3. Entrance of COP25 conference venue 'Feria de Madrid'

4. People walking past COP25 sign inside conference venue

5. COP25 logo on wall inside conference venue

Berlin - 5 November 2019

6. Johan Rockström, co-director of Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, speaking with colleague

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan Rockström, co-director of Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research:

"We are having a larger risk than we previously predicted, so global warming is going faster, climate impacts are occurring earlier, and that we are approaching potentially irreversible thresholds earlier than we previously thought."

Abaco - 5 September 2019

++MUTE++

8. Drone footage of people walking through the piles of debris from demolished buildings left by Hurricane Dorian

Busovaca - 14 May 2019

9. River Lasva rushing past houses in flooded area

10. Flooded house

Santiago - 23 August 2019

11. Dried land after severe drought

12. Dead cow on dried land

Berlin - 5 November 2019

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan Rockström, co-director of Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research:

"We're talking of a change that has to occur at a pace which exceeds the industrial revolution that took us here, so we are talking of another revolution in terms of decarbonising the world economy, and you know, that is not sinking in yet."

Beijing - 6 January 2017

14. Cars driving down road in smog

15. People walking along wearing masks

16. Skyline showing city shrouded in smog

Berlin - 5 November 2019

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Jessica Strefler, researcher at Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Transformation Pathways Department:

"We have waited so long with really ambitious climate protection that we need a combination of all the options that we have. We need mitigation, we need renewable energies, we need bio-energy, but we also need, for the last bit of emissions that we cannot avoid, we also need carbon removal."

Madrid - 27 November 2019

18. Sign of COP25 Climate Change Conference - Chile Madrid 2019 at entrance of conference venue

19. Participants in front of information sign inside conference venue

20. Tents outside conference venue entrance, reading (Spanish) "Welcome"

Rondonia State - 23 August 2019

21. Aerials of white smoke rising from burning Amazon forest

22. Various aerials of burned area and charred trees

Near Vila Nova Samuel - 26 August 2019

23. Firefighters walking with equipment to contain Amazon fire

24. Amazon forest burning

Geneva - 26 November 2019

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):

"There's a young girl who said that the house in on fire, and we should treat it as such. It's time to think about the house being on fire, and so yes, we absolutely need action, and action needs to be taken now. This is not something we can postpone."

Denver – 11 October 2019

26. Activists putting up banner that reads (English) "climate strike" at climate rally with Greta Thunberg

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, environmental activist:

"How dare they pretend that they are doing enough, when the politics needed are still nowhere in sight."

28. Activists with poster showing photograph of Greta Thunberg with the famous quote (English) "How dare you?"

Geneva - 26 November 2019

29. UN flag waving

30. SOUNDBITE (English) John Christensen, Director, UNEP-Danish Technology Institute Partnership:

"The IPCC, the UN climate panel, last year put out a 1.5 degree report that described the difference in terms of impacts from 1.5 up to 2, and they are really scary. And if you go beyond that, I mean, there's already been reports about a 4 degree world, and that's really something you don't want to live in. I mean, you have complete cities being flooded, you have coral reefs, eco-systems completely being destroyed. That's something, it's really hard to describe, because you don't even know what the tipping points are, I mean, if something really dramatic happens and so on. It's a place you don't want to go."

Venice - 17 November 2019

31. Various of flooding in Venice

Helheim Glacier - 14 August 2019

32. Drone footage of helicopter on the ice field of shrinking Helheim Glacier

33. Students sitting on the top of the mountain, Helheim Glacier in the background

34. Time lapse of sunset over Helheim Glacier ++MUTE++

SHOTLIST

1. Wide pan (left to right) of Atocha train station

2. Close of station name

3. Mid of banner advising of 5th anniversary of victims of attack at Madrid train station which killed 191 people on 11 March 2004

4. Close of flowers underneath the banner in memory of the victims

5. Wide pan (right to left) of Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez and Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon inside the memorial, bringing wreath of flowers to lay for the victims

6. Mid of Gallardon with Alvarez with wreath of flowers

7. Mid of cylindrical memorial inside

8. Close of phrases written on the inside of the memorial

9. Wide of Gallardon with Alvarez and local politicians observing minute of silence

10. Close of Spanish flag

11. Wide of cylindrical memorial with officials standing underneath observing minute of silence

12. Close of wreath of flowers

13. Mid of public

14. Wide of officials observing minute of silence

15. Wide of cylindrical memorial outside Atocha train station

STORYLINE:

The Spanish paid tribute to the victims of the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people and injured two-thousand others in one of Europe's worst militant attacks.

The Mayor of Madrid Alberto Ruiz Gallardon Accompanied by the Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez, attended a service at the Atocha Memorial Space, built in 2007.

The 2004 attack involving 10 backpack bombs that ripped through four packed commuter trains has been called Spain's most traumatic event since the Civil War of the 1930s.

Atocha station, one of Madrid's busiest hubs, was one of the stations hit in the wave of simultaneous attacks on the Spanish capital's rail network.

Smaller stations El Pozo and Santa Eugenia were also hit in the attacks.

The Atocha Memorial Space, in memory of the victims, was unveiled in 2007 outside Atocha station, with messages of support written on the walls of the station during the days after the attacks.

A service was held there on Wednesday and a minute's silence observed. Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez and Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon laid a wreath to the victims.

Twenty-one people have been convicted and sentenced for their part in the bombings.

Eng/Spanish/Nat

It was the faithful mount of Sancho Panza, and an enduring symbol of rural Spain, but now it's become an endangered species.

A victim of modernity, Spain's once ubiquitous donkey has been superseded by the petrol engine and is being relegated to the knacker's yard.

APTV visited a sanctuary in Madrid where one man is fighting a lone battle to protect Spain's embattled burros.

These are the survivors of Spain's vanishing rural heritage.

Former beasts of burden , these donkeys have been rescued from the clutches of the slaughterers.

They live on a scrap of land on the outskirts of Madrid belonging to Difeno Romero, a man who's rapidly establishing a reputation as a saviour of Spain's downtrodden donkey.

The death knell for the donkey was sounded when Spain joined the European Common Market.

Since then, rising prosperity and mechanisation have made donkeys redundant at farms up and down the country.

The descendants of Sancho Panza's faithful mount are now in danger of disappearing altogether.

Difeno Romero is engaged on a personal crusade to save the burro.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)

I recognise perfectly that this animal doesn't have much ability to work in this field. But since the animal has done so much for us it really doesn't deserve the kind of treatment it's being given. And this is the call that we always try to make -- that people begin to recognise what this animal has done.

SUPER CAPTION: Difeno Romero, donkey lover

Two years ago, Romero agreed to adopt a donkey which would otherwise have been destroyed.

Since then he's rescued 11 other beasts that are either too old to work or had been replaced by machines.

By day he runs a snack bar in Madrid and more and more of the profits are going on caring for his donkeys.

But he still wants to do more to help the rejected beasts and has lodged and application for funds for funding from the local council.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

When you are doing things that are probably not the normal things, people think you are crazy. But I don't think he is crazy. I think he is trying to do something and it's a nice idea, it's a very good idea and we'll try to help him as far as I can.

SUPER CAPTION: Marta Menendez, member of Tres Cantos Council

In Spain donkeys seem to symbolise a past that most people are happy to leave behind.

But not everyone wants to see the burro become a museum piece and Romero's humble sanctuary may well be the start of a wider conservation drive.

Madrid, Spain, recent video

1. Donkeys in stable

2. Various of Romero showing donkeys

3. SOUNDBITE: Difeno Romero, donkey lover

4. Donkey walking

5. Romero showing how donkeys used to draw carts

6. Romero in his food shop

7. SOUNDBITE: Marta Menendez, member of Tres Cantos Council

8. Donkeys in stable

9. Romero talking on telephone, pulls out to show donkey

Climate activist Greta Thunberg said Friday that hope in tackling climate change is not "within the walls of the COP25" but with the public.

The Swedish teen was in Madrid, where United Nations-sponsored talks on climate change are underway, to join fellow young climate activists, representatives of Latin America's indigenous peoples, and thousands of other protesters.

"We are in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency and we need to start treat this crisis like a crisis and we need to step out of our comfort zones," she said, addressing crowds.

Thunberg was speaking after having taken part in a huge evening protest march through central Madrid.

The 16-year-old was followed by a swarm of cameras and reporters , as well as curious members of the public wanting to film her on their smartphones, from the very first step she took out of an overnight train from Lisbon.

Organizers claimed 500,000 people turned out for the Madrid march.

Authorities gave no immediate estimate.

++QUALITY AS INCOMING++

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

Madrid - 6 December 2019

1. Wide of stage

2. Greta Thunberg greeting audience UPSOUND (Spanish) "Hello, Madrid! How are you? I'm very happy to be here."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, climate activist:

"We are in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency and we need to start treat this crisis like a crisis and we need to step out of our comfort zones. And that is what we are doing right now - we are stepping out of our comfort zones, telling the people in power that they must take the responsibility and protect future and present generations."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, climate activist:

"And I can tell you the hope is not within the walls of the COP25, the hope is out here, with you."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Greta Thunberg, climate activist:

"And we will not let that happen anymore, we will not let them get away with it anymore. We say enough now and change is coming, whether you like it or not. Because we have no other choice. Thank-you."

6. Various of Thunberg on stage

Swedish teen Greta Thunberg joined fellow young climate activists, representatives of Latin America's indigenous peoples, and thousands of other protesters in a climate march on the streets of Madrid on Friday.

Thunberg was in Madrid, where United Nations-sponsored talks on climate change are underway.

She said that calls for real action against climate change are still being “ignored" by political leaders despite their continuous praise of the global environmental youth movement she helped create.

Amid an overwhelming level of attention from cameras and other protesters she left the march shortly after it began, getting in a red car that she's been using to move around the city.

During the Dec. 2-13 talks, nearly 200 countries are meant to streamline the rules on global carbon markets and agree on how poor countries should be compensated for destruction largely caused by emissions from rich nations.

An official directly involved in the negotiations said that despite a few setbacks, the technical negotiations were progressing, although many issues were being left for ministerial-level meetings in the summit's second and final week.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous given the sensitivity of the discussions, added that a political declaration on greater “ambition" - a buzzword at the summit - was shaping to be “difficult to achieve.”

Madrid - 6 December 2019

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Various top shots of thousands of protesters marching in Madrid near Cibeles Fountain

2. Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg in street surrounded by supporters

3. Thunberg getting into car

4. Various of climate march

5. Various of representatives of Latin America's indigenous peoples during march

6. Man burning effigy

7. Wide of protest

Protesters gathered outside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid on Thursday, calling on Japan to stop supporting the use of coal, domestically and internationally.

One protester donned an oversized mask meant to represent Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while another held up a sign reading, "Japan: stop coal finance".

Officials at this year's U.N. climate talks are hoping to achieve a breakthrough in long-running efforts to agree on rules for a global carbon trading system.

Economists say establishing an international market for carbon could unlock billions of dollars' worth of investments as countries and companies seek the most cost-effective way to cut emissions.

But the issue, known in the parlance of climate diplomacy as 'Article 6,' has defied agreement for years.

"There are some fundamental differences between parties that remain and it's going to be a lot of work to try to resolve those issues," said Kelly Levin, Senior Associate with the global climate program at World Resources Institute.

"This is really a COP that is dedicated largely to Article 6," she said, adding that a year of technical work and political pressure "will certainly aid the negotiations".   

With pressure growing from governments to resolve the deadlock, environmental campaigners say the two-week meeting in Madrid might finally result in a deal, after agreements were reached last year on almost all other parts of the rulebook governing the 2015 Paris climate accord.

Madrid - 5 December 2019

1. Protester wearing mask representing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, another holding sign reading (English): "Japan: stop coal finance"  

2. Protesters holding up banners

3. Protesters wearing large mask representing Abe

4. Protester holding bucket with text on it reading (English): "Coal"

5. Protesters and people dressed as fictional video game character Pikachu chanting, UPSOUND: "Sayonara (goodbye) coal"

6. Various of protester holding sign reading (English): "No coal Japan"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) no name given, protester:

"We don't want Japanese government to use coal anymore, because they said they're going to keep investing in coal and we don't want that to happen."

8. People protesting

9. Protester wearing Abe mask handing out coal from bucket  

10. Close of Abe mask

11. Protester saying UPSOUND (English): "Japan has been funding subsidies to expand coal in Asia"

12. Various of protesters chanting

Madrid - 4 December 2019

13. People walking past logo of COP25 Climate Change Conference inside venue

14. Various of Senior Associate with the global climate program of the World Resources Institute Kelly Levin

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Levin, Senior Associate with the global climate program at World Resources Institute:

"(On new Article 6 draft) we have altogether seven pages of text removed from Article 6.2 and Article 6.4 which are main elements of the text, so it's very streamlined, And there are really bright lines between options and it's much easier to understand, so that countries can choose. But there are some fundamental differences between parties that remain and it's going to be a lot of work to try to resolve those issues."

16. Conference venue

17. Text on wall reading (English): "Climate solutions for the future we want"

18. People in conference venue

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Kelly Levin, Senior Associate with the global climate program at World Resources Institute:

"A few things have changed since Katowice (COP24 in 2018), and the first is that this is really a COP that is dedicated largely to Article 6. There are some very critical issues as well, but in Katowice we had to put together the whole rulebook, so a lot of diverse action that was happening that was garnering a lot of attention. Second is that we've had a whole year of intense technical work and political pressure that will certainly aid the negotiations. And lastly, we have a lot of heads of delegations and eventually will be ministers next week who are paying attention to these issues in a new way that they haven't."

20. Participants talking in conference hall

21. COP25 Climate Change Conference logo

Climate activist Greta Thunberg left Lisbon on Thursday for Madrid on her way to the United Nations COP25 conference.

The Swedish teenager arrived in Lisbon on Tuesday, after spending three weeks crossing the Atlantic on a catamaran.

Thunberg hopes her choice of transport proves it is possible to live a sustainable life.

At COP25, officials from almost 200 countries are meeting in Madrid for UN climate talks.

The European Union's new executive Commission is expected to present its long-term plan for tackling global warming - dubbed the European Green Deal - next week.

However the European Union said on Wednesday that it will likely miss its target for reducing greenhouse gases by 2030, dealing a blow to the bloc’s efforts to be a leader in the fight against climate change.

Thunberg wants senior officials gathered in Madrid to "finally understand the urgency" of climate change and cooperate internationally.

Lisbon - 5 December 2019

1. Climate activist Greta Thunberg boards train bound for Madrid

2. Thunberg onboard the train, shot through window

3. Train leaving station

Climate activist Greta Thunberg left Lisbon on Thursday for Madrid on her way to the United Nations COP25 conference.

The Swedish teenager arrived in Lisbon on Tuesday, after spending three weeks crossing the Atlantic on a catamaran.

Thunberg hopes her choice of transport proves it is possible to live a sustainable life.

At COP25, officials from almost 200 countries are meeting in Madrid for UN climate talks.

The European Union's new executive Commission is expected to present its long-term plan for tackling global warming - dubbed the European Green Deal - next week.

However the European Union said on Wednesday that it will likely miss its target for reducing greenhouse gases by 2030, dealing a blow to the bloc’s efforts to be a leader in the fight against climate change.

Thunberg wants senior officials gathered in Madrid to "finally understand the urgency" of climate change and cooperate internationally.

Lisbon - 5 December 2019

1. Climate activist Greta Thunberg boards train bound for Madrid

2. Thunberg onboard the train, shot through window

3. Train leaving station

Demonstrators in the conference centre in Madrid where delegates are taking part in the COP25 climate talks continued their protest outside on Wednesday.

The climate talks in Madrid entered choppier waters Wednesday with ministers struggling to agree on rules for a global carbon market and possible ways to compensate vulnerable countries for disasters caused by global warming.

World leaders agreed in Paris four years ago to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), ideally no more than 1.5 C (2.7 F) by the end of the century. Scientists say countries will miss both of those goals by a wide margin unless drastic steps are taken to begin cutting greenhouse gas emissions next year.

Saying that the message doesn't seem to be getting through to governments, more than 100 activists led by representatives of indigenous peoples from Latin and North America made their way to the talks' venue, briefly blocking the entrance to a plenary meeting where UN Secretary General António Guterres was to speak.

UN security personnel talked to the activists, who agreed to take their unauthorised protest outdoors.

The protest group included indigenous people from several continents, who held hands and demanded climate justice through slogans and songs.

"Right now our voice will continue to be heard. We refuse to be intimidated," said activist Rita Lyke of environmental rights group Friends of the Earth Nigeria as protesters cheered her on.

++PLEASE NOTE UPDATES STORYLINE TO SAY PROTESTERS WERE ASKED TO MOVE OUTSIDE++

Madrid - 11 December 2019

1. Various of protesters making their way outside

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rita Lyke, Friends of the Earth Nigeria: ++SOUNDBITE INCLUDES CHANTING FROM PROTESTERS++

"Right now our voice will continue to be heard. We refuse to be intimidated. We refuse to be coerced. Our rights will continue to be protected. And our voice will continue to be heard. What do we want? Climate justice. When do we want it? Now."

3. Protesters chanting

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rita Lyke, Friends of the Earth Nigeria:

"People are dying every day for scenes they did not commit. And we are here to say: No more corruption without cause. We want the people's voice to be heard. We want a climate solution. We don't want a carbon market, we want people for solution. And that's why we're calling on the government and on COP to listen to the voice of the people. To stop shrinking different civil society spaces around the world."

5. Protesters chanting

Protesters gathered in the conference centre in Madrid where delegates are taking part in the COP25 climate talks.

The protest group included indigenous people from several continents, who held hands and demanded climate justice through slogans and songs.

The climate talks in Madrid entered choppier waters Wednesday with ministers struggling to agree on rules for a global carbon market and possible ways to compensate vulnerable countries for disasters caused by global warming.

Madrid - 11 December 2019

1. Various of protesters gathered inside venue for COP25 climate conference, chanting slogans

2. Security guard talking to protesters, telling them to stop, protesters start chanting loudly

3. Protesters chanting for climate justice

4. Security guards next to protest, protesters chanting UPSOUND: (English) "Let them go."

5. Protest

6. Various of security guards in a line pushing protesters back, other security guards talking to protesters

7. Wide of protesters chanting

8. People moving through corridor

Spanish police on Monday removed an eight-year-old climate activist from a lamp post outside the COP25 summit in Madrid, after she climbed it in a bid to spread awareness about global warming.

Eight-year-old Zozo warned in her message that "we are running out of time" to keep the planet's temperature from rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"The longer our politicians are wasting time with nonsense people will keep dying and losing their homes," Zozo told media after being taken down from the lamp post.

Police left Zozo hanging for around half an hour before climbing up to meet her and cutting the ropes she was hanging from to bring her down.

Zozo carried out a similar protest at a march against climate change in Madrid last Friday that was attended by thousands of others.

Madrid - 9 December 2019

1. Various of eight-year-old climate activist Zozo (no last name provided) hanging from a lamp post at COP25 venue main entrance

2. Fireman using ladder to remove her, cutting rope

3. Girl on street lamp

4. SOUNDBITE (German) Zozo (no last name given), 8-year-old climate activist:

"We are running out of time. We still have eight years left to stay below 1.5 degrees (Celsius). And the longer our politicians are wasting time with nonsense people will keep dying and losing their homes."

5. Zozo being applauded

6. Various of Zozo and her mother

7. Police talking to mother

Activists from the international group Extinction Rebellion held a protest on Tuesday at Cibeles Fountain in Madrid.

They jumped into the fountain while others threw them life jackets.

They chanted: "What Do We Want? Climate Justice."

The group members also held up a banner in Russian that read: "Climate Crisis. To speak the truth. To take action immediately."

Others who were dressed in red robes with their faces whitened to symbolise the human species' peril danced briefly before police moved in to end the protest.

The Tuesday morning protest coincided with the second day of the UN COP25 climate change conference taking place in Madrid.

Madrid - 3 December 2019

1. Various of activists protesting around Cibeles Fountain

2. Activists chanting, UPSOUND (English) "What do we want? Climate justice"

3. Various of police forcing activists to leave fountain

4. Activists holding banner reading, (Russian) "Climate crisis: To speak the truth, to take action immediately."