Spain Has Declared a Climate Emergency, What Exactly Does that Mean?
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Fires are still raging in Australia and the outlook on climate change will look increasingly dire unless drastic action is taken. Thankfully, it seems that governments are starting to take this seriously.
This week, Spain's newly formed government has officially declared a national climate emergency, on Tuesday. That makes it the 26th country in the world to have announced a climate emergency.
We take a look at what exactly this means for the country and what will change for its citizens?
RELATED: THE CITY OF SYDNEY HAS DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, URGES URGENT ACTION
A plan of action
The official announcement, approved by the Cabinet in Spain, says the country's government will send a climate legislation proposal, aimed at tackling the climate crisis, to parliament within 100 days. As AP News reports, the targets Spain are aiming for in their new legislation largely coincide with those of the European Union.
The main proposal so far is a reduction of net carbon emissions to zero by 2050.
Spain proclaims a climate emergency, creates plan of action https://t.co/vETHeshv4v
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 21, 2020
This means that Spanish citizens will see an upsurge in renewable energy solutions. They will also see an increase in sustainable public transport and other initiatives, such as making farming carbon neutral. Barcelona, the country's second city, has already bought 100+ new electric buses over the last few months, as the city aims to cut down emissions.
El pasado 16 de enero nos unimos a #BushFireRebellion en protesta por la inacción contra los incendios que asolan Australia.
— Extinction Rebellion Madrid (@xr_madrid) January 18, 2020
Más de 10 millones de hectáreas han sido devoradas por el fuego, lo que sería equivalente, en superficie, a todo Portugal calcinado.
Abrimos hilo ?? pic.twitter.com/XvZjOuIK4z
The official announcement from the Spanish government comes at roughly the same time as Storm Gloria hit the east coast of Spain causing a freak foam flood in Tossa de Mar, north of Barcelona.
La espuma marina envuelve las calles de Tossa de Mar, cerca de #Barcelona, debido a la tormenta #Gloria ? pic.twitter.com/OeSEKFYBDP
— Reuters Latam (@ReutersLatam) January 22, 2020
We know that Spain's coalition government wants up to 95% of the country's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2040. However, the full details of the plan won't be made public until the proposed legislation is sent to parliament for approval.
Will it be enough?
Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion were quick to praise Spain's decision, with one caveat: while Spain's announcement does tick off two of the group's well-known demands — tell the truth and form a citizen's assembly to tackle the issue — it doesn't aim to bring carbon emissions down to net zero by 2025.
Spain has declared a national #ClimateEmergency this Tuesday.?
— Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) January 22, 2020
✅#TellTheTruth
✅Citizen's assembly
❌Net zero by 2025 (instead: "2050 decarbonisation strategy")
Urge your country to declare climate emergency: https://t.co/93FYz89Crk@EsXrebellionhttps://t.co/o4zzCqpbrA
Some might say that Extinction's Rebellion's demands and actions are excessive, while others say they are necessary. One thing that can't be debated is that 2019 saw the end of by far the hottest decade on record — a worrying trend that urgently needs addressing.
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