Ribera proposes to the 37 OECD Environment Ministers a green recovery driven by renewable energies

The Vice President of the Government and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, yesterday chaired the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on green recovery. In the meeting, which brought together the 37 ministers of environment and ecological transition of the organization, together with that of Costa Rica, as a guest country, Ribera presented his proposals for short, medium and long-term recovery. In Spain, in the short term, the minister has proposed, “investments to accelerate the energy transition in segments that are, at the same time, intensive in employment and generators of social cohesion. Among them, he specified, energy efficiency measures -in buildings, transport and industry-; deployment of renewable energies; electrification and smart grids; and digitalization.”

This is the third round table organized by Spain together with the General Secretariat of the OECD, all of them focused on economic reactivation, and which have allowed to prepare the meeting of the Ministerial Council of the OECD that will take place on October 28 and 29, under the presidency of Spain. During yesterday’s virtual meeting, the Vice President underlined the importance of addressing green recovery from a multilateral perspective and advocating for intergenerational justice. To this end, among other issues, it is necessary, he said, to amplify financial, technical and institutional support to developing countries and increase ambition and comply with the agreements adopted in the multilateral scenario. On this last point, Ribera recalled two important international events: the meeting of environmental ministers of the G20, which will be held in two days, and the Biodiversity Summit that will be part of the United Nations General Assembly, on September 30.

Teresa Ribera, Vice-President of the Government of Spain: “we must be realistic: there is no alternative but to facilitate a path of development and prosperity compatible with environmental limits. We must be smart because, in reality, transforming our model of development and prosperity is full of opportunities, social opportunities, educational and innovation opportunities and economic and investment opportunities for businesses and governments. And we must be fair and equitable. It is essential to take into account the dimensions of equity between generations, or equity between countries, and equity within our society, among citizens. The issues of solidarity, multilateralism, the vision of the medium and long term, are fundamental in this equation”

Short, medium and long term

The vice president explained to the 37 ministers of Environment and Ecological Transition that an economic recovery that “ensures a future for the next generations” requires action in the short, medium and long term. In the first place, it is necessary “to offer quick answers to relaunch the economy and create quality jobs without leaving anyone behind.” The medium term would then focus on “rebuilding the balance between economic, social and environmental objectives, building resilience and ensuring social cohesion”. And finally, in the long term, “we have a responsibility to create opportunities for young generations and strengthen the foundations for a sustainable future.”

In the case of Spain, he explained, the short-term action includes investments to accelerate the energy transition in segments that are, at the same time, intensive in employment and generators of social cohesion. These include energy efficiency measures – in buildings, transport and industry; deployment of renewable energies; electrification and smart grids; and digitalization, which not only contributes to the decarbonization of the economy, but also offers social and economic co-benefits, particularly in rural settings.

In the medium term, and to contribute to building resilience, investment in services – health, education and social assistance, among others – and public infrastructure must be strengthened; climate change adaptation measures, especially in vulnerable sectors; and strengthen the protection of biodiversity.

Anticipation will be critical to addressing the long-term green recovery. In this sense, Ribera has pointed out that it is necessary to identify and support new technologies and business models that will be strategic in a carbon neutral economy, such as storage, hydrogen, marine energies, or the development of the circular economy in Spain.

“Our country is no exception in the context of the OECD. Most of the States are moving quickly to develop recovery plans based on sustainability,” said Ribera, who explained to ministers the regulatory framework that our country has provided and which includes, among others, the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030, the draft Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition; the draft Waste Law; the Circular Economy Strategy; the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change; the Just Transition Strategy; and the Long-Term Strategy 2050.

“This regulatory framework,” concluded Ribera, “is sending a clear signal to all the agents involved in the recovery and, particularly, to investors. Accelerating the shift to clean energy, increasing climate ambition and thereby fostering cooperation with the private sector, will boost the green transition, generating jobs and economic growth.”

Source: Renewable Energies