Uploaded on 2017-04-12 by Angie Ramon

1. Can you give a short overview of the national circumstances of your country? (e.g. population, land use, climate, economics, energy consumption, industry, transport etc.) According to data reflected in the above-mentioned report, in 2012 Spain had an estimated population of 46.8 million, 16.9 per cent more than in 2000. This evolution was mainly caused by the increase in the foreign population and as a result of the economic crisis, largely affecting migrants, the migratory balance was negative for the first time in 2011 and population has fallen. From 1990 to 2011, the largest variations in land use have occurred in agriculture with the reduction of 1.4 M hectares and the increasing of the forested area in just over 1 M hectares. However in relative values, the largest percentage increase – 55 per cent - took place in urban settlement. Because of its geographical situation, Iberian Peninsula has extreme absolute temperatures ranging from -20ºC in winter to 45ºC in summer. So, average annual temperatures range from values less than 2.5ºC and higher values above 18ºC. According to the report, the recent economic developments in Spain was determined by the adverse effects of the recent global economic and financial crisis. Its economy is characterized by the increasing share of services sector, which constitutes 60 per cent of GDP, followed by industry, construction and agricultural sector. The report says that Spanish energy sector has undergone a significant transformation, seeking for a reduction in foreign energy dependence, and to improve country's environment and competitiveness. Whilst the report itself states the Spain commitment to renewable energies, it is the truth that the last government gave in to the demand of the all-powerful electrical corporations and heavily penalised private investments in renewable outside the scope of that companies. As regards the mobility of passengers and goods, figures are: 640.940 M passenger/km and 326.002 ton/km, respectively. The private vehicle is the predominant means of passenger transport (83.3%), and road is majoritarian for freight transport (84.4%). I must give special mention to the importance of the tourism sector for the Spanish economy. In 2012, tourism contributes to around 11 per cent of GDP. The bad news is about the environmental burdens associated: energy/water consumption, waste generation and costs of CO2 and pollutant emissions. 2. What are the main climate protection targets of your country in the report? - Reducing by up to 10 percent, by 2020, greenhouse gas emissions in the diffuse sectors from 2005 levels. - Achieve an economic model that supports energy efficiency less intensive and more sustainable - Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport sector. - Active policies for energy efficiency improvement in the existing buildings and highest efficiency of newly constructed buildings. - Mitigating measures for emissions reductions in agricultural sector and promotion of the research and innovation systems - Forestry policy based in principles of sustainable development and forest multifunctionality. 3. How does your country want to reach these targets? I mention just a few of them by way of example: - Prepare a voluntary national outline of carbon footprint calculations for its reduction and offsetting for carbon dioxide removals. - An Energy Saving and Efficiency Plan had been adopted to comply with Directive 2006/32/EC. - Energy efficiency measures for roads, railways, ports and airports; introduction of biofuels and different strategies for introducing electric vehicles. - Changes in the buildings standards regulations and assistance for housing refurbishments and rehabilitation and energy efficiency of buildings with residential and hotel use. - Reducing the use of nitrogenous fertilisers, and promoting action plans in vulnerable zones to pollution by nitrates 4. What is your opinion about your country’s approach to the environmental issues? (E.g. are the targets feasible? Is the approach feasible? Would you approach the problem in a different way?) I think the document drafted by the present Spanish government - as the path to hell - is paved with good intentions, but the specific measures adopted are far from these targets. So, for instance, the current excessive energy consumption would require increasing in renewables, yet the Government has penalised financially the introduction of renewable energies in a market dominated by fossil fuels in the hands of the big electric companies acting in fact as a monopoly. The report pays so little attention to measures contributing to a reduction in the use of private vehicles, the crisis in historical centres and rundown suburbs and the potential resurrection of house price bubble that now is also affecting rental agreements. Another pending debt is rational energy use in buildings adopting more effective policy for better insulation etc.