Cleaner Towns and Energy in Green-Looking Spain’s Zero Carbon Plan to Ban New Coal and Gas Extraction

SPAIN is looking for a cleaner environment by hoping to pass a zero carbon plan to ban new coal and gas extraction projects by the end of the year.

Environment Secretary, Teresa Ribera, said that the plan had been approved by the Spanish cabinet, and would be sent for approval to parliament, with the law hitting the statute book by the end of year.

The bill supports the aims of the Paris Climate Change accords and promotes environmentally-friendly economic growth as part of Spain’s strategy to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The package would see a bar on any new coal, oil, and gas extraction projects immediately.

Other proposals include raising climate targets, boosting e-mobility, and making cities greener, as well as forcing businesses to divest from fossil fuels due to the extraction ban.

Targets include generating 100 per cent of energy using renewable energy by the middle of the century, with Spain already doing well on that score compared with other European countries.

It also wants to make all new vehicles emission-free by 2040 and to reduce carbon emissions by 23 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030.

Other proposals include reducing energy consumption by at least 35 per cent through the renovation of buildings and homes, with solar energy a clear option in a sunny country like Spain.

The government also wants to introduce low-emissions areas in cities of more than 50,000 inhabitants.

Teresa Ribera claims that up to 350,000 jobs could be created over the next 10 years as a result of the new Green Bill.