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PS available for “consensus” on climate change

“This is an area where we need a broad consensus in Portuguese society, and we want to contribute to that consensus with solutions and pathways,” declared Pedro Nuno Santos at the national headquarters of the Socialist Party (PS) in Lisbon at the beginning of a sectoral session focused on the environment and climate, which is part of the electoral program development process for the upcoming legislative elections in May.

Addressing several sector specialists, Pedro Nuno Santos emphasized that climate change is “one of the central issues in contemporary societies” and highlighted that its impact is already felt in Portugal through desertification, fires, or coastal erosion.

“Therefore, this is a matter of utmost importance, and contrary to what many think, one of our challenges is to show that alignment between the economy, economic development, and environmental and nature protection is possible,” he stated.

For the Secretary-General of the PS, it is crucial to view the climate and energy transition “as an opportunity for economic development rather than a burden on populations.”

“We must reconcile those who want to avoid the end of the world with those who want to make ends meet,” he asserted, stressing that this should be the goal when adopting public policies to protect the environment.

Pedro Nuno Santos later addressed the commitments made by the Portuguese government in 2022 to ensure that 30% of Portugal’s land and maritime territory are protected by 2030, emphasizing that the PS wants to consult experts to understand “how we can achieve this.”

“How do we finance nature and take advantage of this transition as an opportunity for development in the country concerning new economic activities and new jobs,” he remarked.

Highlighting Portugal’s advantages in some areas of combating climate change, particularly in renewable energy production, the PS Secretary-General acknowledged that the country lags in other areas, such as waste management.

“And so, I want to hear from you: those who have worked in these fields for many years and know infinitely more than I do, to help us reflect and extract contributions from your interventions for our electoral program,” he said.

Among the personalities being consulted by the PS Secretary-General in this session are former PS Environment Ministers Duarte Cordeiro and João Pedro Mato Fernandes, PS Deputy Pedro Vaz, the president of the Association for Urban Waste Management (ESGRA), Paulo Praça, Vice President of the Climate Action Council Jorge Cristino, and former General Director of the Directorate-General of Energy and Geology (DGEG) Jerónimo Cunha.

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