Interestingly, after the outbreak of the subprime economic crisis in 2007, Spain experienced a series of eight years of continuous reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The percentage of emissions was reduced by up to XNUMX% 40 points from 2007 to 2014. However, in that last year, CO2 emissions still exceeded by one 14% of those of 1990, base year established in the Kyoto ProtocolThe signed agreement committed participating countries to not exceed 15% of 1990 emissions.
In this context, Spain managed to maintain itself, for the first time in twenty years, below the agreed threshold at that summit. According to the Observatory for Sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 were a 3,13% lower than the previous year.
The role of renewable energy
The Observatory report highlights a growing role of renewable energies in this process of reducing emissions. In 2015, these sources covered a 40,8% of electricity generation in the country, increasing its share at the expense of fossil fuels. It should be noted that the use of coal, one of the main sources of energy that is the most polluting, decreased by 30,6% in 2016.
Despite this progress, consumption of other fossil fuels continued to increase: oil grew by 3% and natural gas a 1,4%. In contrast, renewable energies such as wind They contributed a 19,3% to energy production, the hydraulic un 14,6%, the PV un 3,1% and the thermosolar un 2,1%.
The role of coal and renewables in reducing emissions
Un decline in coal use has been crucial to reducing CO2 emissions. Burning coal is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in industry and electricity generation. However, the situation is beginning to change with the transitional energy policies.
These policies include incentives for companies to switch to cleaner energy sources, while improving the national electricity system through the integration of renewable energies. This trend of change towards renewables is in line with what is established in the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and the objectives of the European Union in terms of energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
Reducing CO2 emissions in transport
Another key factor has been transport. According to the Observatory for Sustainability, the CO2 reduction in this sector It may be due, in part, to local policies that have promoted more sustainable means of transport. Examples of this are the bicycle rental, the impulse to the electric mass media as light meters, as well as traffic restrictions in urban areas to discourage the use of the most polluting vehicles.
The economic crisis that began in 2008 also had its impact on the reduction of emissions in transport. With the increase in fuel prices and the reduction in economic activity, many companies and workers have reduced their number of trips, which has further contributed to these results.
Climate change and its impact in recent years
The report indicates that 2016 was one of the warmest years in Spain over the past five decades, with an average annual temperature of 15,8 degrees Celsius. This figure exceeds 0,7ºC the historical average, and in some areas of the country, such as the Mediterranean Coast and the Pyrenees, thermal anomalies reached up to 1ºC. That same year, a historical maximum of 45,4ºC in Córdoba.
This increase in temperatures is directly related to climate change. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) listed 2016 as the hottest year on record. Emissions of greenhouse gases, especially CO2 and methane, have increased exponentially in recent decades, contributing significantly to the intensification of climate change.
The urgency of energy transition and renewable energy
To mitigate the problem of climate change, an accelerated response is essential. transition to clean energyRenewable energies, such as solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric, are not only essential to reduce the carbon footprint, but also to ensure the energy sovereignty of Spain in the coming years.
But change is not easy. It requires a significant investment in infrastructure, as well as the adoption of sound policies by government entities. Also key will be the development of new technologies and the energy education of the population, which should be aware of the advantages of using clean and renewable resources.
In short, the push for renewable energy over coal has been a decisive factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Spain. However, there is still much to be done to meet the commitments made in the Paris Agreement and avoid the worst case scenarios of climate changeThe evolution of mitigation will come from public policies that strengthen the adoption of clean technologies and encourage changes in the most polluting sectors such as industry and transportation.