The Minett UNESCO Biosphere team grew in mid-June. In order to achieve the goal of the “Mission Zéro Carbone”, a coordinator for the decarbonisation strategy of the 11 PRO-SUD municipalities has been hired.

Ricardo Poeira is the latest addition to the team. A young scientist from Pétange, Ricardo Poeira is starting his professional career in the community of communes in the south of Luxembourg after completing his doctorate in physics, specialising in photovoltaics.

To get to know him better, Ricardo answers three questions here:

The “Mission Zéro Carbone”, adopted in April 2023 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of PRO-SUD, aims to make the Minett UNESCO biosphere reserve a “net zero” biosphere reserve. In your opinion, what are the main challenges that each municipality will have to face in order to implement the first concrete measures towards climate neutrality by 2030?

“The first challenge will be to identify as quickly as possible concrete measures that can benefit municipalities, and to establish the necessary links for their implementation. Many studies have already been carried out and it is now a question of collating the results in order to determine the direction to be taken. It is then a question of finding synergies between the actors in order to introduce measures that will benefit as many municipalities as possible. Of course, the availability of resources varies from municipality to municipality, and this is where cooperation at regional level can be interesting in order to optimise the use of available resources.

A key aspect of this will be citizen participation. We are in a situation where citizens will play a decisive role, be it in transport, energy or consumption in general. This is a defining moment in which each individual contributes to the quality of life of tomorrow.”

 

What role can or should be played by regional energy production using photovoltaics in this decarbonisation process?

“Photovoltaics will play a central role in the decarbonisation and energy supply of Luxembourg. As a renewable and low-CO2 energy source, photovoltaics is one of Luxembourg’s most important assets for generating its own energy in an environmentally friendly way. In addition, photovoltaics offers every citizen a certain degree of energy independence and the opportunity to make an important and simple contribution to climate protection.

I remember seeing some wind turbines and solar panels in the fields when I was ten years old and thinking that this was the technology of the future. We’re not there yet, but I’m convinced it will soon be the norm.”

In your first weeks with us, you had contact with the first municipalities. How have you been received there and where do you see the focus of your work in the coming weeks and perhaps even months after these initial contacts?

“The welcome is warm and very pleasant, as there is an atmosphere of mutual exchange. It is clear that we are working towards a common goal and the interaction is constructive in the sense that difficulties are clearly stated and the focus is on solutions. It is also interesting to see that the municipalities have a lot in common, but also different strengths and weaknesses, which is ideal for the work in the group.

In the coming period it will be important to identify and pool the studies and projects that have been carried out individually so far, in order to develop a network of exchange for the municipalities and an action plan. This will also make it possible to discuss possible inter-municipal cooperation, which will open up opportunities for larger projects and thus greater impact.”