A coalition of nine environmental NGOs from across the country urged the government to halt the ongoing push for large transport infrastructures that seems out of step with the climate emergency. Their call came at the start of 2020, arguing that expansion plans for ports, airports, and the road network clash with Spain’s decarbonisation commitments and its obligations to address the climate crisis.
During a conference in the Lower House titled The policy of major transport infrastructures in Spain, organized by several NGOs, participants criticized the policy for sidelining climate concerns. They noted that the plan to equip major transport facilities has grown far beyond what is seen in many other European nations.
The organizers contend that Spain leads the EU in road and motorway kilometers, hosts the densest high-speed rail network, has notable airport capacity gaps, and shows the most unused port capacity among member states.
Francisco Segura, spokesperson for Ecologistas en Acción, explained that Spain has long channeled a large share of its GDP into major transport projects, often at the expense of social welfare. He highlighted the pattern of strong cuts to social benefits alongside these investments.
Participants framed the situation as a concrete tsunami sweeping across the country. They described the consequences as the loss of fertile and protected lands, the fragmentation of properties and ecosystems, biodiversity decline, increased pollution, and louder noise levels in affected areas.
Decades of promoting an unsustainable transport model, they argued, have depended on fossil fuels and on modes that produce the highest emissions. They emphasized that transport accounts for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions in the Spanish state and that emissions reductions in this sector are essential, not optional.
David Hoyos, a professor of Quantitative Methods at the University of the Basque Country, suggested that large investments have often yielded limited social returns. He called for rigorous criteria to govern all new transport infrastructure projects in Spain, a move he believes climate pressures now demand.
The forum’s signatories also pointed to plans for expanding the Port of Valencia, with a representative from the Port of Ciutat Commission outlining expected outcomes. Additional case studies discussed included the Llucmajor-Campos highway in the Balearic Islands analyzed by Terraferida, the Zeroport initiative addressing Barcelona airport expansion concerns, and the proposed Madrid-Badajoz-Lisbon rail line analyzed by the Public, Social and Sustainable Train State Coordinator.
Several speakers linked these projects to concerns about political corruption, noting a history of illegal donations tied to construction contracts. The group stressed the need for greater transparency and accountability in infrastructure decisions.
Misuse of New Generation funds
Despite acknowledging a moderation in big-business investments over the past decade, organizers warned that the return of Next Generation European funds could revive the most harmful dynamics. They pointed to projects that still carry two negative environmental impact statements, such as the Cuenca-Teruel highway, which is being reactivated despite these assessments.
In this context, several participants argued that transport policy in the Spanish state should stop prioritizing a dynamic that favors large construction interests. They urged a shift toward mobility policies and services that prioritize the majority of citizens while protecting regional health and ecological integrity.
The day’s organizers included Ecologistas en Acción, Climate Alliance, Asturias por el Clima, the State Coordinator of Public, Social and Sustainable Train, Comissió Ciutat-Port, GOB, Plataforma Contra la Ampliación Barajas, Terraferida, and Zeroport.
Officials and observers emphasized the need for a more resilient, equitable transportation strategy that aligns with climate targets and public welfare, rather than consolidating a model driven by prestige projects and short-term economic gains.
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Public commentary and institutional responses underscored the urgency of rethinking transport policy in light of climate science, social equity, and long-term regional vitality.
Notes accompanying the conference stressed that the dialogue continues, with ongoing calls for transparent funding, independent environmental assessments, and inclusive planning that foregrounds communities, ecosystems, and sustainable mobility over exclusive, high-cost expansion schemes. These concerns were echoed by researchers and civil society groups, who advocate for a policy framework that harmonizes transport needs with climate commitments and social well-being.
Researchers and advocates have long argued that economic efficiency should be measured not only by immediate gains but also by long-term social and environmental returns. The conversation remains focused on steering public funds toward solutions that reduce emissions, protect landscapes, and enhance access to affordable, sustainable transportation for all citizens.
Potential future actions include revisiting port and airport capacity metrics, re-evaluating highway expansions, and prioritizing rail and maritime corridors that connect communities with lower ecological footprints. The aim is to foster mobility that serves people more equitably while safeguarding natural resources for future generations, rather than enabling a perpetual expansion cycle that worsens climate impacts and regional disparities.
Organizations advocating for change periodically release updates and analyses to track policy progress and hold decision-makers accountable, contributing to an informed public discourse about how best to align transport infrastructure with climate objectives and social justice goals.
Authorities and participants alike recognize that progress hinges on transparent funding, robust oversight, and a clear commitment to sustainable development that respects regional ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
At the core, the dialogue reflects a broader, ongoing debate about how to balance growth with responsibility in a climate-constrained future, ensuring that infrastructure investments support resilient, accessible, and environmentally sound mobility across Spain and its regions, now and into the decades ahead.
End notes from organizers stress continued vigilance, ongoing community engagement, and the pursuit of mobility systems that deliver broad public benefit without compromising ecological health or social equity, in line with climate commitments and the public interest.