Sara Aagesen is already third vice-president of the government and minister of ecological transition and demographic challenge. The current Secretary of State for Energy succeeds Teresa Ribera and assumes her position as “one of the greatest experts in energy transition” in Spain, as described this morning by the President of Government, Pedro Sanchez. “I believe in working from science, I believe in technical knowledge and I believe in public service for citizens,” he assured from the same ministry that he will now lead.
Aagesen was promised the position at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. Her nomination has already been published in the Official Journal and she gave a presentation speech to mark the change of cycle. With him, he defended the enthusiastic face of ecology and presented himself as a driving force to promote a new period of progress in the protection of the environment and biodiversity. “We must adapt our society and our economy to the impacts of the climate emergency,” he warned.
“A ministry is much more than a declaration of intentions,” he expressed after thanking the President of the Executive for his trust and the work of his predecessor in charge of the portfolio. “This ensures environmental, social and economic outcomes,” he said. The new minister defended the need to take urgent measures against the climate emergency and stressed that this is precisely the case in a territory like Spain.
“It is perhaps time to remember that Spain is a particularly vulnerable country in Europe,” he warned. “We must respect scientific entities because they protect us. This science that knows what we have to face and how to face it. We must adapt to this new reality, protecting the present but also the future.
The minister also defends the role of the Spanish economy as a “reference in terms of ecological transition”. “We are the first European country in terms of protected natural areas, 18 million hectares of land, 13 million hectares of sea with protection figures. We cherish unique resources like iconic ecosystems, forests, wetlands and coastlines,” he explained. According to the data presented in his presentation, Spain managed to reduce polluting emissions by 50% thanks to the closure of coal, the increase in renewable energies – photovoltaic and wind – and a 1,000% growth in l self-consumption. “A transition that has been made just and inclusive, not as a single leitmotif, but much more to leave no one behind. »
“It is possible to grow, strengthen social justice, reduce gas emissions and reindustrialize our country. » “With complete humility, but also with great conviction, I believe that the energy transition agenda is an agenda of opportunities. We have all the pieces: the sun, the wind, the businesses, the talent. We have a convinced society, we have policies, we have unions, a civil society, NGOs. It has to be a positive result,” he insisted.
Aagesen was appointed Secretary of State for Energy in 2020. She accompanied Teresa Ribera, until now head of the ministry, for a large part of her career. For her, he had only praise and words of gratitude. “I am privileged, privileged to be able to work with all of you,” she expressed to colleagues at the Ministry of Ecological Transition, before claiming the successes obtained during the mandate of her predecessor: “She has courage, leadership, courage. » “He achieved the greatest transformation of the country and achieved unattainable milestones,” he said. “My dear Teresa, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me a long time ago, thank you for being able to work with you all these years. “I can never, ever, ever forget your support, your trust and what you passed on to me,” he thanked.
