One of the most powerful weapons in the fight against climate change is the energy transition. Change our energy model towards a new development that, apart from polluting less and contributing to the reduction of global warming, implies new business and employment opportunities for the different sectors.
Climate-kic is a new initiative promoted and financed for the most part by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action, presented the initiative together with the Secretary of State for Science, Carmen Vela and the director of Climate-Kic Spain, José Luis Muñoz.
This initiative has several objectives, among them the change in European energy models and the other is to generate business opportunities in the adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change. There is money and investments that are waiting to be able to develop new projects of innovation and advanced technology that help improve a new global economy. A good example of how innovation can transform the environment is the adaptation of plants to climate change, an area that Climate-KIC is also promoting and which is related to the plant adaptation to climate change. It is also essential to understand the differences between climate change and global warming to address this problem effectively.
All the opportunities that arise must be seized and used in the fight against climate change. For this, the lines of action of this center are to train experts in the new models that are characterized by their little use of carbon. They also seek to promote innovation in companies, universities, research centers and public administrations; and help those who want to undertake in this matter.
climate kic has trained more than 2.000 international experts at European level. It has created about 200 companies that have attracted an investment of 189 millones de euros where more than 100 innovative projects have been developed that help in the fight against climate change. This is in line with initiatives that seek to mitigate the effects of global warming, as in the case of Cities that could disappear due to global warming and other effects of climate change that we must consider.
Among the cases of expert training carried out in Spain has been carried out that of a professional who was trained in Climate-kic and who, later, obtained a job in the Benaguasil City Council (Valencia) from which she has transformed the management of the water cycle, with sustainable drainage systems in stormwater management which has been recognized with several awards. These types of projects show how the community can be involved in the fight for a more sustainable environment and highlight the importance of the impact that climate change has on different social sectors.
“There is business in action against climate change, as well as possibilities to attract investment, generate employment, and accelerate economic recovery. The challenge of climate change adaptation and mitigation can mean a new revolution at the industrial level ", has added the director of Climate-Kic.
In the fight against climate change, it is also necessary a global restructuring in which all countries develop energy policies aimed at sustainable development. One of the best tools for global restructuring of the economy, energy, and the way we produce it is the agreement adopted in Paris last December, which has also been crucial in responding to the effects of climate change.
Arias Canete has warned that any country that delays the energy transition to a low-carbon economy will face higher costs, fewer opportunities, and risk being left behind in the various negotiations. It is essential that effective measures be taken to address climate change on all fronts, as mentioned in articles on mitigation of the effects of climate change.
The Paris Agreement It promotes innovation and is a driver of transformation and growth for sustainable and energy-related development. This change that countries must make must be irreversible and immediate, which highlights the importance of training in topics related to the energy transition and the role of innovation in this process.
“The entry into force of the Paris Agreement, in less than 11 months, sends a message to investors. We are facing an unstoppable movement. That is why they are so important initiatives such as Climate-Kic, in order to use the talent available in Spain to generate jobs in the new development model, as also highlighted in other analyses of Germany and its effects of climate change. Investment in green infrastructure will be key to better adapting to climate change, a need that has been highlighted in the discussion on investing in green infrastructure that benefit the environment.
For its part, the Secretary of State for Science, carmen candle has remarked that “the transition to a new development model is here to stayVela acknowledged that Spain has a “very effective and efficient” scientific system, but that there is still much work to be done. The impact that climate change can have on our society cannot be underestimated, and a collaborative approach is necessary, especially in the context of Spain.
Finally, Vela added that it is necessary to have to reach a balance between the contributions the public sector has in terms of energy innovation and what the private sector should contribute. This balance is essential for developing an effective response to climate change.
