The first ecological "think tank" of the Spanish right

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"Climate change has become yet another trench of political polarization."

Luis Quiroga (Oviedo 1978) and Toni Timoner (Mallorca, 1980), who have the advantage of contemplating the "bitter debate" in our lands from the green of London, recognize it in tandem.

"It annoyed us that many people in Spain assumed that because we were right-wing we could not have an ecological conscience, and vice versa," they admit, and that is why they decided to take a step forward with Oikos: the first conservative environmental

on our political map.

We ask you from the outset if it is not perhaps too late to "de-ideologize" the climate issue.

", they reply.

"If we continue at the expense of political cycles, without a minimum of consensus on climate policies, we will never achieve enough progress. And this is something that the great majority of center-right voters, in favor of protecting the environment, demand."

The perception of climate change

Oikos aspires to fill the void due to "the lack of a conservative green discourse" and correct "the perception problem" that, in the opinion of its founders, exists in Spanish public opinion.

According to a recent 40DB poll, commissioned by the

, the majority of left-wing voters are aligned with the "green" politics of their parties, while

.

"This is a very anomalous situation: it turns out that

and other people who are also waiting for "mine" to defend them in order to take the step forward," he points out. Louis Quiroga.

"The vast majority of Spaniards are concerned about climate change; denialism makes noise, but it is very marginal."

"The cliché that to be an environmentalist you have to be on the left has to be left behind," emphasizes Toni Timoner.

. Our intention is that there be a balanced dialogue. And also claim our own and genuine green weighing, away from radicalism and different from the hegemonic voice that has been tax on environmental issues".

The founders of Oikos certainly work in "green" (Luis Quiroga in a sustainable investment fund, Toni Timoner in climate risks of a financial institution).

Work and militancy go hand in hand in his case: both are members of the local group of the PP in the United Kingdom.

Oikos, however, emphasizes its status as an "independent entity" and

who believe in "an orderly energy transition" and "pragmatism and realism" to achieve zero emissions goal.

In their manifesto they also make a double call for "individual responsibility and intergenerational solidarity".

The third musketeer of Oikos, Alberto Giral (Barcelona 1995), brings precisely the young and digital blood to the newborn project, conceived in the shadow of the Conservative Environment Network (CEN).

"In the United Kingdom there is a long "conservationist" tradition that has taken root in this network, which already has the support of more than a hundred deputies", recall Toni Timoner and Luis Quiroga.

The CEN manifesto in fact served as a guide for Boris Johnson's "green agenda", who however now faces a renewed climate war following the creation of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group (NZSG) on the right wing of the party.

The founders of Oikos believe, however, that it is a marginal and opportunistic maneuver, taking advantage of Boris Johnson's moment of political weakness and social unrest due to the energy crisis.

Luis Quiroga and Toni Timoner know the world of finance from within and can confirm that we are witnessing "a secular change" within the economy:

they are getting on the bandwagon of the ecological transition and they want to be on the side of the benefits and not the harm".

Oikos appeals in fact to the Greek and shared root of Ecology and Economy, consecrated to the "study" and the "management" of the "home" (that is, the planet).

In the chosen name there is also an implicit nod to "oikophilia" (love of "terroir"), the term coined by Roger Scruton, author of

the bible of right-wing conservationism in the United Kingdom.

"The logical thing is that we conservatives are conservatives, by semantics, by tradition and by philosophical principles," conclude the founders of the

, who ultimately claim "attachment to nature" and "emotional closeness" to the environment.

"In the United Kingdom we have David Attenborough, and in Spain we had Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente or Miguel Delibes. Hopefully someone manages to pick up the baton and penetrate with a message capable of breaking down ideological barriers."

88% of Spaniards, "concerned" about climate change

88% of Spaniards admit to being "concerned" about climate change, according to a OnePoll survey for Statkraft, the Norwegian state-owned company and the largest generator of renewable energy in Europe.

Only Italy, with 92% of the population "concerned" or "very concerned", exceeds Spain for the level of awareness of the climate, in a survey in which 16,000 citizens from nine European countries (along with the United Kingdom) Kingdom, France, Holland, Ireland, Croatia and Norway).

The Spanish are also apparently the best informed: 75% admit to knowing and "being aware" of the climate objectives of the European Union: carbon neutrality in 2050 and a 55% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade.

75% of those surveyed acknowledge that it matters "somewhat", "quite a lot" or "a lot" that the energy in their homes is from "renewable" sources.

83% of the population supports solar energy in our country and 75% welcomes wind energy, the second country with the highest acceptance.

Even so, people show concern when it comes to living with large photovoltaic or wind installations near their homes, due to the impact on the environment and on wild flora and fauna and the noise level (in that order).

The survey detects growing support for the "electrification" of mobility, with 37% considering switching to an electric or hybrid vehicle in the next two years.

56% recognize that the price is still the biggest drawback to permanently park the combustion car.

In fact, Spain is among the bottom Europeans for the implementation of the electric car, which barely reaches 7% of registrations.

At the head is precisely Norway, which last year became the first country to exceed the ceiling of 50% of registrations for electric cars, thanks to the most advanced policy of tax exemptions and incentives in Europe.

Interestingly, Norway is the country with the lowest proportion of "concerned" about climate change (39% of the population) of the nine that have participated in the survey.

The OnePoll survey for Statkraft finally detects a gender gap in environmental issues in our country, much greater than that of our European neighbors: 70% of women consider that personal action is important and that climate change is "the responsibility of each", compared to 53% of men who think the same.

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