How Does The New Climate Change Law Affect You?
The government allocates more than 200,000 million euros to the transformation of the economy so that Spain does not contribute to climate change as of 2050.
After passing through Congress and the Senate, the Climate Change Law has been approved, the objective of which is to abandon fossil fuels (coal and oil) and ensure that in 2050 economic activity in Spain does not contribute to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The 2050 target seems ambitious, but the intermediate steps are not so ambitious: the law foresees that in 2030 the reduction of greenhouse gases will be 23% when the European Union proposes a reduction of 55%.
In any case, the application of the law will imply the investment of 200,000 million euros throughout the decade 2021-2030 to achieve a transformation of the economy that will be reflected in many aspects of life.
More traffic restricted areas
For example, cities will have to transform their spaces to encourage journeys on foot, by bicycle and by public transport. Starting in 2023, all cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants will have to establish restriction zones for polluting traffic.
These measures will affect 24 million Spaniards who live in the 148 most populated municipalities.
On the other hand, gas stations and car parks must have charging points for electric cars.
More green spaces
The Climate Change Law also requires municipalities to develop green infrastructures and ecological corridors that make urban environments healthier places.
In addition, the government will have to present a “specific strategy for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and species especially sensitive to the effects of climate change.”
Renewable energies for all
Article 8 addresses the energy problem. It proposes to rehabilitate buildings to achieve greater savings in homes and apply measures so that people in vulnerable situations are not deprived of energy for economic reasons.
The National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), designed to apply the requirements of the law, will allow the rehabilitation of 1,200,000 homes in the next decade. For this, 6,820 million euros will be allocated from European funds.
In addition, within a year, the government must promote a Horizontal Property Law that should “facilitate and make more flexible” photovoltaic installations in neighboring communities. This law should favor the self-consumption of solar energy.
The law sets the objective of doubling the production of renewable energy within ten years. Currently it is 20% and in 2030 it should be 42%. In the case of electrical energy, 74% must be renewable.
Nuclear energy will not be in Spain a solution to energy needs, since the law prohibits uranium extraction mines.
It also prohibits the extraction of hydrocarbons, so companies will have to stop looking for new deposits to obtain fossil fuels. This prohibition includes the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract oil.
Environmental education in schools
Curricula at all levels (schools, institutes, professional training and universities) must incorporate environmental education to achieve the involvement of society in responses to climate change, reinforcing its knowledge and implications.
To promote this awareness, the law provides for the creation of a Citizen Assembly on Climate Change.
More responsible companies
The new Law does not only affect public institutions. It also demands that companies act with more environmental responsibility. To do this, they must publicly present decarbonization and climate action plans, including their greenhouse gas emissions data and the deadlines to reduce them. However, no sanctions are foreseen.
The law had the affirmative vote of PSOE, United We Can, PNV, More Country, NC, BNG, Teruel Existe, ERC and Bildu, the abstention of the PP and the only vote against VOX.
