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.
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 in which it has been possible to develop more than 100 innovative projects that help in the fight against climate change.
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 various awards.
“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 weapons of global restructuring in the economy, energy or the way to produce it is the agreement adopted in Paris last December.
Arias Canete It has warned that any country that lags behind in the energy transition towards a low carbon economy will have higher costs, will have fewer opportunities and will run the risk of being left behind in the various negotiations.
The Paris Agreement promotes innovation and is an engine of transformation and growth for sustainable development and energy. This change that the countries must make must be irreversible and immediate.
“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 that exists in Spain to generate jobs in the new development model. Cañete has added.
For its part, the Secretary of State for Science, carmen candle has remarked that “the transition to a new development model is here to stay". Vela has recognized that Spain has a "very effective and efficient" scientific system, but that there is still much work to be done.
Finally, Vela added that it is necessary to have to reach a balance between the things that the public sector contributes in terms of energy innovation and what the private sector should contribute.