Spain urges investment in infrastructure at transport forum, offers support to Ukraine

Spain's commitment to sustainable infrastructure and international cooperation was on full display at the International Transport Forum (ITF) in Leipzig. Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, delivered a strong message, advocating for increased investment in infrastructure resilience. Puente argued forcefully that anticipating and preventing the effects of adverse climate phenomena is not just an environmental imperative but also a sound economic strategy. He stated that every euro invested in prevention is a euro saved from costly reconstruction, freeing up resources for growth – a core objective for any nation.

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Todo lo que invirtamos en prevenir, dejaremos de invertirlo en reconstruir y todo lo que no invirtamos en reconstruir no lo tendremos para crecer, que debe ser nuestro objetivo

Puente's address directly confronted the realities of climate change, drawing on Spain's own experiences. He described witnessing unprecedented torrential rains in the south and unusually high temperatures in the north, leading to fires that are increasingly difficult to extinguish. He specifically highlighted the impact on Spain's railway infrastructure, underscoring the urgency of adapting to these new climatic realities. The minister called for a shift from a reactive approach to one of proactive planning and prevention, asserting that acting now, while facing these challenges, is ultimately more economical.

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La resiliencia es el concepto. Y es el concepto sobre todo debido a la gran amenaza que sufren nuestras infraestructuras, que se llama cambio climático

Beyond domestic concerns, Spain used the ITF platform to reaffirm its solidarity with Ukraine. Minister Puente met with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Oleksiy Kubrakov, reiterating Spain's unwavering support and offering concrete cooperation for the repair and development of infrastructure devastated by Russian aggression. This bilateral engagement builds upon the recent discussions between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding potential collaboration between Renfe, Spain's national railway company, and Ukrainian railways.

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Verá lluvias torrenciales en el sur nunca vistas hasta hoy. Verá temperaturas anormalmente altas en el norte, nunca vistas hasta hoy. Hay incendios casi imposibles de sofocar. Y, sobre todo, verá la influencia que esas circunstancias están teniendo en nuestras infraestructuras, especialmente en la infraestructura ferroviaria

From a Spanish perspective, this engagement at the ITF signifies our nation's leadership in advocating for climate-resilient infrastructure and our steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine's recovery. While international forums often focus on global emissions targets, Spain is emphasizing the practical, on-the-ground necessity of building infrastructure that can withstand the inevitable impacts of a changing climate. Our proactive stance, coupled with our tangible support for Ukraine's reconstruction efforts, demonstrates Spain's role as a responsible and reliable partner on the international stage, addressing both immediate crises and long-term sustainability.

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Teniendo en cuenta que vamos a tener que hacerlo, hacerlo ahora es hacerlo más barato