The transformation towards a sustainable, fair and equitable model It has become the backbone of many public and private policies at the national and international levels. Far from being a passing fad, the green transition requires coordinated action, sustained investment, and the real involvement of all social actors: governments, businesses, citizens, and, most importantly, the education system.
Spain is among the European countries that are most actively promoting projects aimed at decarbonization and the use of clean energy., especially through green hydrogen and the circular economy. But this structural effort cannot be separated from the sociocultural environment: without a change in the way we understand, teach, and live with environmental challenges, technical advances may fall short.
Large-scale green energy: Seven transformative projects underway
The Ministry for Ecological Transition has confirmed the approval of aid worth €1.223 billion. to finance seven renewable hydrogen production initiatives spread across Aragon, Andalusia, Castile and León, Galicia, and Catalonia. These projects, which involve up to twelve interconnected industrial plants, are expected to generate nearly 270.000 tons of green hydrogen per year, essential for decarbonizing sectors such as heavy transport and the chemical industry.
Among the selected proposals, those that combine the installation of high-capacity electrolyzers with the use of derivative fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, or eSAF (sustainable aviation fuel) stand out. The electrolysis technologies used will be mostly alkaline, with purchasing commitments that guarantee industrial integration from the outset.
In addition to environmental impact, social criteria have also been key in the selectionJob creation, the revitalization of areas experiencing demographic decline, gender equality, and technical training for the local population have all been positively assessed. It is, therefore, a transition model that focuses on competitiveness without neglecting territorial cohesion.
Green education: the future is taught in the classroom
In parallel to the energy impulse, Education is emerging as a strategic tool for rooting sustainability in the collective imagination. The upcoming COP30 climate summit, to be held in Brazil in 2025, will include among its priorities placing environmental education as a pillar of global action. This will not be limited to technical knowledge alone: ​​the goal is to promote principles of equity, active citizenship, and ecological responsibility from an early age.
The Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) is already working on joint programs between Latin America and Europe to strengthen a transformative education capable of modifying patterns consumption, mobility, and relationship with the environment. The Energytran project is one of the initiatives that aims to advance this path, with the goal of training professionals and citizens capable of leading the upcoming changes.
According to Tamara DÃaz Fouz, General Director of Education of the OEI, Sustainability will only be possible if it is integrated transversally into educational content and teacher training.Schools must become spaces where a shared vision of the world we want to inhabit is forged.
The role of the Basque Country: three decades of green economy
The Basque Autonomous Community can boast of having advanced many of the actions considered priorities today. The Aclima environmental cluster, based in Bilbao, celebrates its 2025th anniversary as a driving force for sustainable transformation in 30. Its role has been key in linking the industry with criteria of circularity, efficiency and low environmental impact., anticipating European regulations and promoting replicable success models.
The cluster's general manager, Olga MartÃn, highlights three major challenges on the Basque agenda: the decarbonization of industrial processes, efficient recycling and public-private cooperationAlthough the Basque Country already recovers half of the waste generated annually, there is still significant scope to utilize millions of tons of waste as secondary raw material and open up new lines of sustainable business.
The Lurra Award received by Aclima this year recognizes this pioneering work and commits the cluster to continue leading the creation of economic opportunities compatible with environmental protection.
Latin America and Europe: a strategic alliance for a just transition
We cannot talk about sustainability without addressing global imbalances and differentiated responsibilities. Latin America, home to 60% of the world's lithium reserves and almost half of the planet's tropical forests, is a strategic region for moving toward a low-carbon global economy. However, it is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Paris Agreement and previous international declarations enshrine the principle of climate justice., which forces the most developed countries to finance and support the green transition of regions with less responsibility in greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, Europe and Latin America are strengthening biregional cooperation that combines technology transfer, financial support, and educational collaboration.
To be fair, the transition must adapt to the productive specificities of each territory. In many areas of the global south, Mining, intensive agriculture and oil extraction remain key sources of income.The transformation cannot be imposed, but rather agreed upon and agreed upon, supported by legal frameworks, tax incentives, and support for local entrepreneurs who provide circular solutions.
With an integrated approach that combines clean energy, environmental education, technological innovation and global agreementsThe green transition is not only possible, it's already underway. Spain is moving forward decisively, supported by international alliances, European financial support, and an increasingly aware citizenry.