In December 2015, as a result of COP21 in Paris, an international agreement was signed that established the objective of keeping global warming below 2 degrees with respect to pre-industrial levels before the end of this century and, if possible, limit it to 1.5 degrees.

To achieve this objective, the main tool is the energy transition, that is, to change from an energy system based on fossil fuels to one with low or zero emissions, based on renewable sources.

However, the energy transition is not limited to the progressive closure of coal plants and the development of clean energy. It is a paradigm shift of the entire system. A great contribution to decarbonization that comes both from electrification, which also makes other sectors cleaner, such as transport, and from the digitization of networks, which in turn improves energy efficiency.

The benefits are not just for the environment. The development of renewables and the reconversion of the old power plants helps the economy and creates new jobs. The important thing is that no one is left behind.

The energy transition has become necessary to save our planet from the effects of climate change. But the benefits it produces are not only environmental. Renewable sources and electrification reduce pollution and improve air quality (let’s think only about electric mobility), but the paradigm shift produced by the energy transition also represents a great opportunity for economic well-being, the growth of the employment and social development of the communities involved.

For example, the birth of new professional figures, the so-called green jobs, is linked to the evolution of renewable technologies, while the dismantling of old fossil fuel plants may be accompanied by the requalification of technicians and the retraining of operational personnel in other sectors. The fight against energy poverty in many areas of the planet and investments to guarantee access to clean energy for all, also represent an important development opportunity for local communities.