Spanish Strategy on Climate Change and Clean Energy 2007-2012-2020

The Spanish Climate Change and Clean Energy Strategy aims to reach an effective emission reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, related to energy and the accomplishment of Kyoto targets. In terms of Clean Energy, various objectives and measures are outlined, through four lines of action for energy efficiency, renewable energy, demand management, and research development and innovation. All of these call for the creation of new financing mechanisms. In energy efficiency, the strategy seeks to ensure efficiency improvements are beneficial overall, by removing fare structures that encourage consumption, and putting in place regulatory measures to prevent increased demand for energy should efficiency lead to reduced energy costs. Information campaigns, for both companies and consumers, will be undertaken, and voluntary commitments by companies encouraged. For Climate Change, specific action lines across 11 broad areas are outlined, which are: i) Institutional cooperation, ii) Flexible mechanisms, iii) International Cooperation and cooperation with developing countries, iv) Emission Trading, v) Sinks, vi) CO2 Capture and Storage, vii) Sectors concerned with diffuse pollution, viii) Adaptation to climate change , ix) Information and public awareness, x) Research, development and technological innovation and xi) Horizontal Measures. Within these, 198 specific measures are detailed, which in turn provide for the 75 indicators the government will use to measure progress. A variety of measures to make the greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme more effective are put forward, aiming at greater harmonisation and stability, an expansion of the scheme to other gas and/or sectors, and connection of registries. Measures are also planned for CCS, including a scoping study and analysis, the design of a suitable legal framework, and the monitoring and co-ordination of various CCS initiatives across the country. Sectors concerned with diffuse pollution are those which do not fall under the GHG emissions trading scheme, namely transport, waste, residential, commercial and institutional sectors, farming and fluorinated gases. Regarding the latter, Spain will transpose EU Regulation 842/2006 and EU Directive 2006/40/EC to establish limits and controls on certain fluorinated gas emissions. In transport, various measures target better infrastructure and territorial planning and modal change. In addition, the use of efficient building and power generation technologies, as well as renewable energy sources, are to be used when developing transport facilities. Other efficiency measures include eco-driving programmes, improved energy labels for vehicles, as well as integration of energy efficiency criteria in administrative contracts to increase the number of clean-air vehicles in the public vehicle fleet. In the residential, commercial and institutional sectors, most measures will concentrate on buildings; both new buildings, through strengthening thermal building code requirements and promoting energy performance certificates, as well as existing buildings, through incentives for renovation. Measures will also encourage the use of efficient appliances, heating equipment and light bulb. Measures targeting large energy consumers and SMEs are also envisaged. Regarding renewable energy, measures will extend the use of solar thermal panels in new housing projects as well as non-residential buildings and public facilities. In addition, the use of wood as heating fuel will be promoted. High priority support will be given to biomethanisation and the recovery of biogas from landfills. A special set of measures aim at improving public awareness of climate change issues, including good practice manuals, teaching materials, and agreements signed between research organisations, universities, associations and administrations to cooperate to popularise research and reports on climate change issues.

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