Spain reduces emissions towards Kyoto targets

Citation

(2011), "Spain reduces emissions towards Kyoto targets", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 3 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm.2011.41403daa.003

Spain reduces emissions towards Kyoto targets

Article Type: News From: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Volume 3, Issue 4

Spain’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 3.7 percent last year to 22.1 percent above their 1,990 level, the Spanish Environment Ministry announced. This is still 7.1 percent above the country’s Kyoto Protocol target but marks a significant decline since 2007. At that point, Spain was 37 percent over its Kyoto target. Official estimates now indicate the country will exceed its 2008-2012 goal by 12-14 percent rather than the 22 percent excess expected in 2007, according to the ministry.

The growth in renewable energy generation has had a considerable impact, cutting power sector emissions by 22.6 percent between 2009 and 2010. This left Spanish generators with surplus allowances for the EU ETS for the first time last year. The economic crisis has also played a role in the fall. The rapid rise in carbon emissions between 1997 and 2007 was largely due to surging electricity demand and road traffic. Electricity demand had stagnated since 2007 and road transport emissions began to fall in 2009.