The election campaign falls short for environmental groups. They highlight issues considered essential but largely absent from political debates and even from electoral platforms. Gaps include regional laws for nature protection or climate action; insufficient remediation plans for many threatened species; farming and animal husbandry practices that stress biodiversity; and the degraded conservation status of numerous protected areas.
SEO/BirdLife responded to this omission, noting a low environmental profile in campaigns conducted amid a climate and ecological crisis.
“Topics like biodiversity, nature conservation, fires, drought, air and groundwater pollution, green taxation, land use, regional planning, and renewable energy are largely the responsibility of autonomous communities and municipalities and are not part of political discussions,” argues the NGO.
At the same time, scientists warn that this decade is pivotal to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Yet the NGO argues that most political parties do not seem ready to challenge the status quo, which is frustrating for concerned observers.
The La Viñuela reservoir in Malaga has been affected by drought. EFE / J. Zapata
“Policies pursued in recent years have allowed significant economic and social development, always at the expense of nature and the climate. The reality, however, is unyielding. Vital resources like water are being depleted in both quantity and quality, and the air we breathe is not immune. There is a need to change our lifestyles and the governments that enable these patterns,” says Asunción Ruiz, executive director of SEO/BirdLife.
environmental ambition
“Voters should demand a fundamental shift at the ballot box. Public policy must place environmental ambition at the center for all parties. An election program that lacks recommendations to improve nature and address climate change will not enhance people’s lives,” asserts Ruiz.
The NGO emphasizes that autonomous communities, which hold most powers in nature conservation, should shoulder the responsibility to ensure conservation, management, and restoration in the next legislative period. To guide future regional managers, it puts forward five proposals:
1 Law on Nature Conservation and Climate Change: “All autonomous communities should have updated nature conservation laws, a regional biodiversity strategy, a robust climate change law, and a regional energy and climate plan.”
2 Sector Plans for Nature: “The environment ministries, together with agriculture, livestock, energy, and water, should approve sectoral plans that ensure policy alignment with nature conservation.”
3 Regional Restoration Plans: “There must be a plan to ensure that at least 30% of degraded habitats undergo effective restoration by 2030.”
4 Responsible Renewables: “Spatial planning should guarantee that renewable energy development occurs in areas with low environmental sensitivity, prioritizing urban or industrial lands and degraded sites, while incorporating equitable social measures.”
5 Public Participation: “Effective environmental advisory councils with no voting power for the administration should ensure meaningful public participation in environmental issues.”
A layer of pollution over Madrid. EFE / Juan Carlos Hidalgo
sustainable policies
Urban centers, being closest to citizens and daily life, bear particular importance. SEO/BirdLife suggests five additional actions for town halls:
1 Urban biodiversity: “Municipal councils should regulate biodiversity conservation so that municipal policies support maintenance and improvement of local ecosystems.”
2 Climate Change: “Local entities should adopt the ‘Convention of Mayors for Climate and Energy’ and approve a sustainable energy action plan.”
3 Green areas: “Increase green and wooded spaces by ten percent and manage them to favor biodiversity, including biodiversity-friendly gardens.”
4 Schools: “Launch programs to naturalize education centers and integrate climate change adaptation, ensuring students understand the value of their environment.”
5 Pets: “Ensure pets do not threaten nature, reduce the feral cat population, and limit stray animals in sensitive ecological zones.”
A layer of pollution over Madrid. EFE / Juan Carlos Hidalgo
citizens and environment
Citizens should weigh environmental proposals in their voting choices. The future depends on sustainable agriculture, responsible animal husbandry, energy strategy, and municipal policies, among other factors. The lead voice here is the Head of SEO/BirdLife Environmental Governance, who stresses the importance of considering environmental outcomes in every political decision.
Urban biodiversity is a priority for practical action at the local level, where everyday life unfolds and where meaningful change can begin. The discussion about sustainable development is not confined to distant debates; it happens in neighborhoods, schools, and city halls, where decisions about land use, transport, and local energy shape everyday life.