WWF is calling on the Government to adopt a clearer, longer-lasting plan that speeds up the shift away from fossil fuels in Spain. While welcoming the recently approved energy-saving and efficiency steps as a positive move, the group urges a faster transition toward a smarter, more efficient power grid and consumption patterns that involve society as a whole.
According to Sergio Bonati, WWF’s climate expert, energy-saving and efficiency measures are essential in the current crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine. They fall under the responsibility of governments, cities, companies, and citizens alike. He warns against treating these measures as mere political tools and insists they are a fundamental means to curb global warming and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
WWF emphasizes that cutting energy demand remains the quickest and most direct path to bolster energy security and lower emissions. It presses all levels of government, along with businesses and households, to roll up their sleeves and act.
With regard to the announced measures, WWF asks the Government to implement a robust follow-up to ensure compliance. It highlights the need to advance inspections of building energy efficiency, including those with existing checks before January 1, 2021, to improve performance across the housing stock.
Moreover, a localized approach should shorten the distance between where energy is produced and where it is used by promoting self-consumption and expanding energy communities. This would support a national electricity grid planned around a distributed and optimized model that minimizes losses during transport.
In addition, WWF calls for progress in digitizing and increasing the flexibility of the electricity system so that supply and demand can be matched more effectively. This would help renewable power plants operate reliably even when demand dips or network capacity is tight.
The organization also points to the Climate Change Law provisions, urging action to promote changes in transport, housing rehabilitation, and urban renewal. It supports the implementation of low-emission zones and the integration of renewable targets across new and existing buildings, with more ambitious yearly targets for residential retrofits.
WWF backs the promotion of telework as a highly effective tool to cut energy demand and related emissions, arguing it should be widely adopted where feasible to reduce peak loads and fuel use.
Finally, the group calls for education, information campaigns, and citizen awareness programs to influence both consumption habits and productive sectors. It wants clear energy labeling, efficiency mandates, and a sustained push to reduce demand while encouraging best practices across the economy.
WWF stresses that these policy proposals do not mean a decrease in quality of life for people or businesses. On the contrary, they are framed as a practical path to a healthier planet for future generations and a more resilient economy in today’s energy landscape.