Conference: "The Ecological Transition in Rural Spain: Perspectives and Perceptions"

On April 26, 2023, OIKOS and Legados held the conference “The Ecological Transition in Rural Spain: Perspectives and Perceptions” at La Casa Encendida (Madrid), aimed at analyzing the challenges, contradictions, and opportunities posed by the green transition in rural areas. The event was opened by Isabel García Tejerina, former Minister of Agriculture and Environment, who highlighted the need for ambitious public policies allowing Spanish agriculture and rural areas to adapt to climate change without sacrificing competitiveness.

Throughout the day, five panel discussions featuring over twenty expert voices from academia, business, institutions, and civil society took place. Key topics covered included public perceptions of the ecological transition in rural vs. urban environments, balancing sustainability and affordability in food, coexisting nature conservation with agricultural and livestock activities, adaptation strategies for the primary sector facing climate change, and the territorial impact of renewable energy deployment.

Participants included, among others, Jorge Galindo (EsadeEcPol), Alejandro Labanda (BeBartlet), Cinta Bosch (AECOC), Celsa Peiteado (WWF), Pablo Manzano (BC3), Josep María Ribas Portella (Bodegas Torres), Víctor Viñuales (ECODES), and Pedro Fresco (former Director General for Ecological Transition in the Generalitat Valenciana).

The conference offered a diverse and rigorous overview of the current dilemmas facing rural Spain in the climate emergency. At OIKOS, we continue working to contribute knowledge, listen to local areas, and build realistic proposals that contribute to a fair, effective, and socially supported ecological transition.