The Secretary of State for the Environment, Pablo Saavedra, stressed today that biodiversity, the circular economy and mitigation and adaptation to climate change are “great pillars that in an interconnected way must raise the edifice on which we want and must work”.
This was stated by Pablo Saavedra during his speech at the closing of the National Congress of the Environment (CONAMA) 2016, together with the president of the CONAMA Foundation, Gonzalo Echagüe, and the delegate of the Government, Environment and Mobility Area of the Madrid City Council, Inés Sabanés.
The Secretary of State recalled that under the auspices of the UN, emblematic agreements have been signed, such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and environmental and cooperation objectives have been coordinated through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
These are, as he detailed, agreements and commitments that have “solid support on the road to a circular economy” and an approach “that encompasses an enormous potential for benefits for everyone, but more so for those who are committed to it first”.
He explained, in this regard, that “our best-positioned, most avant-garde, most innovative, ultimately smartest companies, know what it means from a business perspective to bet on a greener line in their business strategy”.
In addition, he highlighted the main issues addressed at CONAMA, including those related to the energy transition to a more efficient and decarbonized model; to the improvement of the quality of life in cities, to the importance of knowledge and innovation to move towards climate-smart agriculture; the promotion of green infrastructures, the promotion of protected areas and ecotourism; water and waste management and environmental responsibility, among others.
“These experiences will be very useful in the design of initiatives and in the development of new regulatory developments, such as the Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition or the new legislation on Waste,” said the Secretary of State, who also highlighted the importance of the Ibero-American Environment Meeting, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary. within the framework of CONAMA.
BROAD PARTICIPATION
Once again, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment has had a stand within the framework of CONAMA. On this occasion, on the occasion of the centenary of the publication of the first National Parks Law in Spain, in 1916, it offers visitors a tour of the 15 natural spaces that have the maximum protection in our territory and that make up the Network of National Parks.
In addition, in line with the principles of the Congress and applying a policy based on eco-design, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment has reused the stand that was built for the last edition in 2014 and whose structure, built with 100% recyclable and reusable products, is made in Spain with FSC-certified material. The specific contents have been printed on separate panels and the carpet is made of recycled jute so that the entire construction can be used again at subsequent events.
Likewise, as in previous editions, the Ministry, through the National Center for Environmental Education (CENEAM) of the Autonomous Organization of National Parks, has taken advantage of the transit areas to locate two exhibitions: the Network of National Parks and the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves.
ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
The Ministry, through the Biodiversity Foundation, has also organized various forums within the framework of CONAMA. Among them, a conference to present the new challenges of governance in adaptation to climate change in Spain from the perspective of two major projects: the LIFE SHARA project and the “Global Change Monitoring in the Network of Spanish National Parks”.
The first of these is a European initiative that will mark a before and after in adaptation to climate change in Spain, while the second refers to a pioneering project worldwide that uses protected natural areas as indicators for measuring global change.
The Biodiversity Foundation, together with Ecoembes, has also developed the ReciclaconamaR Programme, aimed at 15 future entrepreneurs to promote new entrepreneurial ideas in the field of waste prevention, reuse and recycling, eco-design and the circular economy. In the Ecoembes space of CONAMA 2016, the 6 projects that have been beneficiaries of the call for aid for the fight against marine litter of Ecoembes and the Biodiversity Foundation have also been visible. At the same time, during the four days of the congress it has been possible to visit an exhibition of visual posters with inspiring experiences of green entrepreneurs.
