The San Sebastian campus of the University of Navarra hosted a round table discussion on the major environmental challenges facing society. The colloquium was attended by Xabier Ezeizabarrena, president of the General Assembly of Gipuzkoa; Jordi Puig i Baguer, lecturer in the Department of Biology at the University of Navarra, and Eduardo Ayesa, researcher in the Water and Health division of Ceit-IK4.

Experts have addressed the issue from a scientific, technical and legal perspective.

Xabier Ezeizabarrena, president of the General Assemblies and professor of Law at Deusto and the UPV/EHU, alluded to the three pillars of sustainable development that are being implemented by the European Union: "I would highlight the economic pillar, because employment must be generated; doing so in harmony with the environmental pillar, that is, protecting the ocean, the atmosphere and natural resources. And finally, the social pillar, because politics and law must intervene in the most disadvantaged sectors. It is a slow path, but one that is being taken," Ezeizabarrena stressed.

Eduardo Ayesa, who is a lecturer at Tecnun, argued that it is important to train engineers in environmental matters because "in 5 or 10 years' time, no one will consider introducing a technology without having carried out an environmental analysis of what it will cost to leave nature exactly the same as before it was introduced".

Jordi Puig i Baguer, professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Navarra, said that we have to change and respect the environment, even if individual behaviour does not have an impact on a global scale. "We have to convince ourselves that, if we synchronise our hearts and our good intentions, culture can change. And not the other way around.

The round table is part of the "University Dialogues" programme, organised by Tecnun, the School of Engineering of the University of Navarra in San Sebastian. The aim of this initiative is to create a regular forum for students and professors to reflect on ecology, technological development and its ethical and social implications.