Spain | More climate ambition than concrete action

Summary

The transition to a low-emission economy not only represents an opportunity for the transformation of the Spanish economy and society, but has become a priority on the national agenda. However, a more effective approach will be necessary to achieve the targets set.

Key points

• Key points:
• The succession of temperature records and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events illustrate the magnitude of the challenge we face and the consensus among experts is clear: inaction and insufficient emission reductions in the coming decades could result in profoundly uneven and not insignificant impacts on the economy and society.
• Greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions have continued to grow in Spain, at annual rates of 3.1% and 4.5%, respectively, in 2022, an increase largely attributed to a more carbon-intensive energy mix.
• The most polluting sectors have made more progress in terms of emission reductions than the rest (-8.5% in 2016-2019, compared to -5% for all sectors), which is due to the fact that they start from higher emission levels and are also subject to greater regulatory (EU ETS) and social pressures.
• This progress in emissions reductions is not sufficient to achieve the targets set out in the NECP 2023-2030. Spain should urgently implement a more effective approach, in order to move forward as a country and gain in prosperity and well-being.

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