What are Greenpeace's reflections on the Spanish economic fabric?

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With 50 years behind it, the most famous environmental NGO in the world continues on the street - but also in the office - carrying out projects that revolve around sustainability, climate change or democracy, among many others. Many of them, not without controversy. Economía 3 has spoken with Eva Saldaña , an activist for 18 years and current director of Greenpeace Spain .

The electricity bill, the role of companies in the energy transition, greenwashing or Phone Number List the behavior of states in the face of climate change are some of the keys that Saldaña addresses.

This is how Greenpeace works
– It is your first year as director of Greenpeace Spain, what is your assessment of these months? What will be her lines of action for next year?

I am very focused on three organizational challenges. The first is intricate with our mission, which is to promote a change in the socioeconomic model that helps not exceed 1.5º temperature. Protect biodiversity and address the crisis of inequalities.

The second challenge has to do with continuing to generate a community of political action that activates at least 3.5% of the Spanish population. Why this figure? Once that figure is exceeded you can produce significant changes. Really, we need citizens to be protagonists in this ecological transition.

The third is focused on our identity and culture as an organization. We have been there for 50 years and I think many things need to be reviewed, what is working and what is not; integrate an ecofeminist perspective; a more agile and collaborative culture… In short, a more modern organization. I think you have to review yourself from the inside to have an impact on the outside.

I am a grassroots activist and I have been growing alongside the organization, I know it well and I have a very powerful team. Changing the course of a ship is not always easy, but we have been able to be in the most important public debates this year at a time when the scientific community is talking to us about 'code red' for humanity. I think it is very important to be in all these debates about model changes and energy transition from a model based on fossil fuels, and with a very strong electricity oligopoly, to a 100% renewable, intelligent, efficient and inclusive model.

Also on how Spain can stop being dependent on gas. And in all the consequences that continuing to be that way has and that we are already seeing in our electricity rate.




Are climate summits useful?
– Now that some time has passed since the last COP, do you think it has been a 'missed opportunity' or has it really had tangible value?

We have 26 COPs and progress in all of them has been minimal. Perhaps the strongest was in 2015 when that step of having a global consensus on not exceeding 1.5º was really taken. The global north is the one that has polluted the most and is the one that has to act the most now and reverse it. But, the global north continues to resist and wants to delay everything as much as possible for its own benefit. That has been the biggest debate in Glasgow .

A timid sign of the end of the coal era is beginning to be incorporated. There are nuances that slow down the process, but it is there. Progress is also beginning in climate financing with the commitment of 100 billion dollars annually that must be given to the countries of the global south so that these countries can make this ecological transition. Has progress been made? Yes, a little? Also.

The debate continues on the commitment to reduce emissions. What has been progressed? The 45% emissions reduction by 2030 has been reaffirmed, but also that this commitment must be reviewed every year, instead of every five. However, we continue to see that there are countries that do not do their homework. Spain is a clear example. We arrived at this summit listening to Pedro Sánchez say that we need more climate ambition and the abandonment of fossil fuels and the reality is that Spain continues with a reduction of 23% compared to the 55% requested by the scientific community.