In two years, about 1,800 Galician companies with more than fifty employees face annual fines ranging from 60,001 to 120,000 euros if they fail to cut their polluting gas emissions. The Xunta supports a law designed to uphold the public commitment to lower climate impact, requiring cooperation from these firms under the threat of financial penalties.
This is outlined in the preliminary draft. The summary of the measures gives formal recognition to many commitments already made by the regional government, for example cutting polluting gas emissions by 57% by 2030 and reaching climate neutrality by 2050, meaning emissions are balanced by the absorbing capacity of Galician forests.
One innovative element of this legislation, to be announced over the coming month and expected to be approved by Parliament this year, is the creation of a Galician carbon footprint registry. All medium and large enterprises will be required to register. The obligation would start one year after the law is approved. Data from the Galician Statistical Institute for 2021 show 1,474 firms in the first category (50–259 employees) and 303 in the second category.
Industrial installation in Galicia. Galician Post
This registry will include the annual calculation of greenhouse gas emissions produced, reductions achieved, and projects linked to carbon dioxide absorption, mainly through tree planting or through purchasing “clean air” from other forest owners, effectively offsetting emissions by forest hectares.
The regional government notes that the central government will regulate this issue through a royal decree on carbon footprint registration, but Galicia intends to advance its own system.
The authorities emphasize that the law is not solely punitive. It aims to drive emissions reduction plans that help reach the broader goal of fighting global warming. Still, a framework for non-compliance and its sanctions will be established.
Fines of up to 120,000 euros will hit medium and large companies that do not meet the obligation to reduce emissions. If a company complies with the reduction but fails to register in the Galician registry, a lesser penalty of up to 30,000 euros could be imposed. The Environment department stresses that the registry will show Galicia’s progress toward the law’s goals and guide decarbonization plans more effectively (Source: Xunta de Galicia).
The law targets all types of companies, and a version of the regulation will also apply to the administration itself, establishing maximum emissions budgets for the entire region and laying out five-year action horizons.
A decarbonization plan for smaller councils
The forthcoming regulation creates obligations for Galician municipalities with populations under 20,000. These localities will be required to implement a decarbonization program covering energy use, water consumption, waste management, sustainable inputs, reduction of plastic materials, and vehicle fleets.
Non-compliance will trigger sanctions ranging from 30,001 to 60,000 euros. The regional government and its instrumental units must offer such a program. Electricity contracts must guarantee that renewable energy contributions are maintained after the law takes effect.
A quest for fresh air
There are two paths for cutting the carbon footprint: reducing emissions directly or offsetting them by buying “clean air”. This means paying forest landowners for the CO2 absorption capacity of trees or for planting projects that create carbon sinks.
Xunta plans to boost the capacity to capture greenhouse gases, favoring natural sinks on land and at sea. It will even establish a carbon bag to support the sale of clean air.
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Contact information for the environment department is provided for further inquiries (Source: Xunta de Galicia).