To face the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges posed by climate change worldwide, the participation of industries and authorities in each region is key
According to José Manuel Entrecanales, President of ACCIONA, today it is vital to simultaneously address the economic effects as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges posed by climate change.
During the company’s General Shareholders’ Meeting, the manager appealed to public-private collaboration to overcome this double crisis: “The necessary resources are of such magnitude that the public actions that are designed will not be enough without the determined participation of the business sector ”.
From his point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic was unleashed in a world that was just beginning to understand the need to lay the foundations for the transition to a clean and decarbonized economic model that copes with climate change.
“Spain, for example, is facing a historic opportunity to bet decisively on renewable energies, energy efficiency, the electrification of transport, micro-mobility or new storage or hybridization technologies.”
In this sense, he considered it key to rise above ideologies and personal positions, relax the climate of political and social tension and send as many messages of unity and consensus as possible to the world.
Additionally, he added that the framework for action is defined by the EU Next Generation recovery plan, proposed by the European Commission, which is supported by the so-called European Green Pact, which aims to provide the European Union with an economy decarbonized.
Actions to address climate change
Regarding Australia, he emphasized the strong activity in the development of wind farms, with the recent announcement of the construction of a 1,000MW one in the state of Queensland, and the entry into activity of the Sydney Light Rail.
In the Middle East, where the impacts of global warming are being serious, it was reported that the firm closed the hiring of three macro-desalination plants in 2019, with the capacity to offer water to the equivalent of three million people.
He also explained that in Chile the position as the main generator of 100% renewable energy is being strengthened, with important corporate supply contracts such as Google or the Falabella department store chain. While, in the United States, an important portfolio of more than 3,000MW was acquired to develop new clean energy projects and in Mexico the construction of the photovoltaic complex of Puerto Libertad (404MW) was completed.
He also indicated that important investment perspectives are opening up in Spain in light of the new legal and regulatory framework and highlighted the development of sustainable urban mobility through shared electric motorcycles in the country’s main cities and in European capitals such as Milan and Lisbon.