The Government of Spain says it is striving to achieve climate neutrality before 2050, in a bid to fulfilling its international commitments. The nation disclosed in its “Green New Deal” that the target calls for more ambition and robust climate action made by Spaniards in the streets.
Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal or simply eliminating carbon emissions altogether.
Spain, which is hosting the 25th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2019 following the withdrawal of Chile, has set the objective to reducing greenhouse emissions 20% by 2030 (1990 levels), surpassing the current targets and norms established by the EU. This, it was gathered, will require eliminating 1 of every 3 tonnes of CO2 emitted today.
In a statement titled “Climate Ambition and Action: Levers for Spain’s Modernisation and Progress” and made available to EnviroNews on Wednesday, November 27, the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition stated that the country is on the front line against climate change and has a leading role within the European Union (EU), as evidenced by the negotiations within the European Council.
“Spain was among the first to demand a formal commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 for the entire EU, ensuring Europe’s response to the call by the IPCC Group of Experts on Climate Change and achieving a knock-on effect on other Member States,” said the statement.
The year 2050 is the new target set by the United Nations Secretary-General at the Climate Action Summit held in New York last September for everyone committed to achieving climate neutrality.
Spain said however that it is going beyond what the Paris Agreement demands to balance anthropogenic emissions and sequestration of greenhouse gases.
“The Government of Spain’s target has therefore been supported by and is consistent with Science, with its commitments to the United Nations and with the will of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, which has urged the Executive to declare a climate emergency and commit to activating cross-cutting policies in all government actions in order to achieve climate neutrality no later than 2050.
“We agree with the European Parliament and the President-elect of the European Commission that the EU must respond to recent science reports and the climate emergency and increase our current level of ambition from cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHE) by at least 40% to 55% by 2030 (1990 levels).
“This is the only response in line with reaching the 1.5°C global warming scenarios in the IPCC report, alongside cost-efficient emissions reductions for achieving climate neutrality by 2050.”
The framework of the Spanish Green New Deal comprises: the first-ever Draft Bill on Climate Change, the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2021-2030, and the Strategy for a Just Transition.
The framework is complemented by: National Strategy against Energy Poverty; Long-Term Strategy for a Modern, Competitive and Climate-Neutral Spanish Economy in 2050; the Climate and Air Quality Initiative; and National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC).
