Iberdrola's executive chairman, Ignacio Galán, has written an opinion article published by Time Magazine, shining a spotlight on the success of engineers around the world, and noting how important engineers will be as the world seeks to drive the electrification of the economy and solve the climate crisis.
Mr Galán states that he was inspired to become an engineer by his great-grandfather, himself a pioneer in hydro power in Spain, and by others who have helped to lead Iberdrola to the forefront of the energy transition.
He notes the world is facing a shortage of young people with engineering and STEM skills and highlights other research by Iberdrola that shows nearly 8 in 10 business leaders believe that green skills will be the primary driving force behind the energy transition.
To solve the problem, he believes Governments, educational institutions, and industry leaders must work together. He points to the work of Neoenergia in Brazil, where more than a thousand women have been trained at its School of Electricians. Mr Galán also mentions new digital platforms like Global Green Employment or New Career Networks, part of the European Roundtable of Industry Reskilling 4 Employment initiative, are also helping to address the shortage.
In conclusion, Mr Galán recalls his recent speech at Comillas University, in Madrid, where he received an honorary doctorate. He discussed how important it will be to educate a new generation of engineers and to celebrate their achievements, in order to inspire even more to come into the industry. They will be critical for the cleaner and fairer society of tomorrow.
The full article can be read on the Time Magazine website, as part of the Time 100 Voices section, which features ideas and perspectives from the world’s most influential people The World Needs More Engineers to Meet Clean Energy Goals | TIME
