Environmental organizations Friends of the Earth, Ecoologists in Action, Greenpeace, SEO/BirdLife and WWF, Government Aspects of the National Plan to respond to the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine, which puts the conservation of biodiversity at risk.
organizations recognize The need to facilitate the processing of renewable energies in areas where it is possible to ensure that the environmental impact of these facilities is not adverse, such as urbanized, urbanizable or industrial areasamong others.
However, It considers it important not to apply the new open procedure for the approval of renewable power plants to areas where impacts on nature may be critical and irreversible. and that, in any case, Citizen participation is guaranteed From the beginning of the environmental assessment procedures set by the European Union regulations and the Aarhus Convention.
The five organizations are voicing their concern about the lack of warranties, which may require a shortened processing procedure to authorize certain onshore renewable power plants (up to 150 MW of photovoltaic and up to 75 MW of wind) in regions of low to moderate environmental sensitivity. It contains the Royal Decree Act regulating the emergency measures of the shock plan against the war in Ukraine, the validity of which will soon be discussed at the Congress of Deputies.
behind the people
In its current narrative, this new process without citizen participationif a particular renewable electricity generation facility needs to pass Environmental impact assessment (as should be done in case of normal processing) (if appropriate environmental due diligence report is obtained) areas of low to medium environmental sensitivity Defined by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Struggle (Miteco).
This would potentially open the door to authorization of projects with high environmental impact without minimum guarantees.both public consultation and environmental impact assessment.
they think it will be particularly relevant. moderately sensitive areasIt includes habitats of community benefit or critical areas for the conservation of endangered species such as the Iberian imperial eagle, Cantabria capercaillie, or agro-steppe species in severe decline such as bustard bustard and quail, among others. If this wording of the Royal Decree is upheld, the new procedure could facilitate the destruction of such an area, which is already heavily threatened..
Environmental NGOs They demand that the new procedure to accelerate the processing of certain renewable plants should, in any event, be limited to areas of low environmental sensitivity other than protected natural areas and areas of high ecological value. for example, wetlands included in the national inventory and Areas Important for the Conservation of Birds and Biodiversity (IBA, for English acronym), among others.
Environmental organizations also draw attention to the following fact: new procedure eliminates citizen participation at the beginning of the process. this question May be against EU environmental impact regulationsguarantees genuine participation of the relevant public from the very beginning of the process.
Forced expropriations without guarantee
Like this, Environmental NGOs urge the Executive to include the necessary public hearing process to analyze the possible impacts of the projects and to transfer their evaluations to the public administration before making a decision.
Otherwise, projects with potential environmental impact will be approved that may require forced expropriation of land without adequate procedural guarantees and without a voice for affected people and communities. at the right moment.
Environmental NGOs argue that: changes must be made immediately A de facto form of redundant renewable distribution nature loss engine of the country.
For more than two years, NGOs demand that central and regional governments adequately plan for renewable developmentwith maps describing restricted areas and priority areas (especially on urban or developable land, as well as on industrial land).
To date, there are not enough tools to keep developers away from more environmentally sensitive areas. With the double effect of taxing Public Administration by processing projects that will ultimately be rejected due to environmental impact, delaying the processing of other better planned projects (and hence the energy transition) and Increasing pressure on biodiversity in Spain.
Therefore, the new express procedure, will exacerbate a major environmental problem. In addition, It could seriously hinder Spain’s progress in the fight against climate change.
WWF, SEO/BirdLife, Greenpeace, Ecologistas en Acción and Friends of the Earth, To the Government and parliamentary forces, Accelerating “the unforgivable abandonment of fossil and nuclear fuels, betting on savings, efficiency and renewable energies”.