Energy transition is everyone’s business. Since the political structure of Spain is based on three administrative levels: national, regional and local, In the public sector, a tripartite effort is required to ensure balanced progress towards a decarbonised, equitable and sustainable economy..
But an international report revealed this. More climate action is needed by autonomous communitieswith the current separation of powers. Responsible for reducing 65% of CO2 emissionsthrough reduction, efficiency, savings and adaptation measures.
The Life Unity project report by SEO/BirdLife analyzes the decarbonisation process in ten countries of the European Union. comes to the conclusion Spain must improve the “coherence of its multi-government response to climate change”.
The study draws particular attention to the role of autonomous communities, because “all still regional decarbonisation plans“It is not fully consistent with national and European targets” with a view to 2030 and the degree of target.
“In a decentralized country like ours Policy consistency between different levels of government is vital.“Says David Howell, Head of Energy and Climate at SEO/BirdLife.
“Autonomous communities have significant powers to combat climate change and climate emergencystep on the accelerator of action and coordination, joint and solidarity response To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Climate, and with it everyone’s health, cannot be the object of the State-autonomous conflict as it often is,” adds Howell.
Communities such as the Balearic Islands, Catalonia or Andalusia already decarbonisation laws approved and under further development. But others, such as Asturias or Madrid, do not yet have such regulatory projects, the report reveals.
Cities, heroes
About plans or strategies for climate actionIn Asturias, Catalonia, La Rioja and Madrid these are in preliminary studies or processing, while other autonomies have documents in force with the 2030 horizon or Euskadi, Galicia and Navarra, 2050.
The document alsolead role“what they might have cities engages in climate action and promotes the implementation of measures at the local level. On the other hand, it is aimed to allocate funds and technical resources to smaller municipalities by making use of the New Generation lines, decarbonisation plans.
In this sense, it calls for the inclusion of key indicators and measures for municipalities to reduce emissions while exercising their mandate in the next review of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) planned for 2023.
The text includes, among other issues, the increase in photovoltaic energy installed in residential areas, the performance of low-emission areas and pedestrianized areas, the increase in areas that serve as carbon sinks, public transport use or increasing and using bike lanes.
“Municipalities have a central role in accelerating climate action and moving towards a resilient and decarbonised economy,” says Ana Márquez, head of SEO/BirdLife’s Unify project.
“These are the level of government closest to the citizens, and therefore their role in climate action has a direct and immediate impact on people’s well-being and quality of life. There are multiple measures defined that largely depend on the political will of the country’s legislators,” he adds.
“But also and especially In the case of small municipalities, it is necessary to express resources to facilitate their decarbonisation.. In this sense, the Next Generation funds represent an opportunity that Spain cannot afford to lose”, says Márquez.
more ambitious goals
In addition to regional and local action, the study considers it “necessary” to establish several. emission reduction targets The most ambitious for 2030:
-Receive that independent scientific opinion outweighs the commercial, financial and political interests slowing climate action.
-Develop use of public funds.
-Trustworthy that natural carbon sinks are adequately protected and developed (biodiversity, forestry, agriculture, water, sea…) and urban and rural land use and development policies support emission reductions and energy savings.
-Increase Promote renewable energy sources that respect biodiversity and people.
-To guarantee decisive climate action for agriculture and natural carbon sinks.
-To adopt alternative to private car.
The report reveals that Total gross greenhouse gas emissions in Spain decreased by 14% in 2020 compared to 2019what it means below 1990 levels for the first time (especially 6%).
industry public transport It remains the largest issuer (28% of the total), followed by industry (21%) and Energy Y farming (14% each). Emissions fell between 2019 and 2020 in all key sectors except agriculture and waste, where they increased by 1%.
Emissions in the ETS sectors (power plants and large industrial plants) were reduced by 19% and in the combined ESR sectors (transport, small industry, buildings, agriculture, waste and fluorinated gases) by 10%.
Again, net CO2 absorption in natural carbon sinks fell for the third consecutive year (3%) is in line with the negative trend forecast in Spain’s Long-Term Strategy. Total final energy consumption decreased by 13% in 2020with renewable energy produces 21% of the total electricity and 43% of the electricity consumed.
Reference report: https://seo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/necp-report-taking-stock-planning-ahead.pdf
Source: Informacion
