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Spain’s new left-wing government declares climate change emergency

Overall aim is to get to net-zero carbon by 2050

Jon Stone
Europe Correspondent
Wednesday 22 January 2020 18:50 GMT
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Warning sign? Storm Gloria batters El Bogatell beach in Barcelona
Warning sign? Storm Gloria batters El Bogatell beach in Barcelona (AFP via Getty)

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​​​Spain‘s new left-wing government has declared a climate change emergency and said it will unveil ambitious measures to cut carbon emissions.

The socialist coalition administration, which took office at the start of the year, pledged to unveil new legislation within the first 100 days.

The proposals are expected to lay a path for 95 per cent of country’s electricity to come from renewables by 2040, as well as making buses and trucks zero emission.

Farming will also become carbon neutral, the new administration has indicated – with further details to be made public when the legislation is presented to parliament.

Environment minister Teresa Ribera said the government would create a climate advisory panel “to generate ideas about responding to climate change in an inclusive, consultative way with a special focus on the youth”.

The overall aim is to get to net-zero carbon by 2050 – in line with EU targets and that of the UK government.

Some countries have gone further and proposed faster carbon neutrality. Finland, for instance, says it will become carbon neutral by 2035.

Spain is already one of the world leaders in renewable energy, with large investment in wind power in particular meaning it generates over 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources.

It joins dozens of countries and regions in declaring climate emergencies around the world.

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