Catalonia
| Population: | 7.2 million (2007) |
|---|---|
| GHG Emissions: | 58 MtCO2e (2007) |
Targets and Goals
- Catalonia's emissions reduction objectives are calculated on
the basis of Spain's Kyoto Protocol target (+15% under EU burden
sharing), as well as the commitments under the EU Emission Trading
Scheme (ETS) for sectors concerned.
- For non-EU ETS covered sectors, emissions need to remain below a 37% increase compared to 1990 levels, which can be translated into a target of 5.33 MtCO2e/year for 2008-2012.
Top Actions
Energy Efficiency
- Catalonia provides public information and capacity building. This includes: free efficient driving courses, energy-saving guides, energy management and energy audit courses, as well as educational campaigns to promote energy saving.
- Catalonia grants subsidies for energy efficient domestic boilers and households appliances (freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, etc).
- The Catalan Administration has introduced energy optimization criteria for public buildings in the framework of a Government Agreement for saving and improving energy efficiency. This measure, approved in April 2007, aims to reduce 150 GWh/year. This measure will be reviewed in two years.
Renewable Energy
- The Catalan Energy Plan sets an objective of 11% of renewable energy in total primary energy consumption by 2015.
- Catalonia grants subsidies to promote the introduction and development of renewable energy sources. Catalonia supports and encourages research and technological development in this field, also offering specific training programs to professionals and running educational campaigns addressed to civil society.
- Many renewable energy facilities have been installed in the region. Among the most significant, Serra Rubió's Wind Energy Farm consists of 331.5 MW wind turbines with a production capacity of 105 GWh per year. This is the equivalent of the energy consumption of 30,000 households and saves around 110,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The project, carried out by ACCIONA, is a Euro50 million (US$63 million) investment.
- The region is also developing solar thermal power for industrial processes. The project - which received the Eurosolar 2005 award (POSHIP pre-project) - consists of 92 solar thermal panels installed on 510m2. With a thermal capacity of 360kW, the plant saves about 100 tonnes of CO2 per year. The Euro8 million (US$10 million) total investment has been possible thanks to contributions from several public bodies.
Clean Transport
- In order to encourage more energy diversification in the transport sector, Catalonia grants subsidies for vehicle renovations on the basis of the energy efficiency improvements and energy savings that these generate.
- Catalonia offers free efficient driving courses to professional and non-professional drivers.
- The Framework Plan for Climate Change Mitigation in Catalonia 2008-2012 plans to increase the transfer from private cars to public buses for transportation. Such a measure has the potential to reduce 254,066 tonnes of CO2e over the period and to increase the number of non-motorized travels.
Sustainable Land Use
- The Framework Plan for Climate Change Mitigation in Catalonia 2008-2012 plans to produce energy from agriculture and forestry biomass. This measure would potentially reduce 23,000 tonnes of CO2e over the period.
- The Framework Plan for Climate Change Mitigation in Catalonia 2008-2012 also establishes the 2008-2012 Catalan Biodigestion Manure Plan which aims to achieve a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 109 Kt of CO2e annually and a production capacity of 20MW.
Waste Management
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The Waste Management Policy established in the Framework Plan sets a series of measures that will enable GHG emissions reductions of about 0.325 MtCO2e between 2008 and 2012. These measures include waste production prevention by promoting recycling and reduction of final dumping, more efficient transport and waste management, and include minimizing energy consumption and introducing renewable energies into the sector.
Fiscal Measures and Market-Based Mechanisms
- Catalonia applies a car registration tax according to the CO2 emissions produced per kilometer. Cars under 120g CO2/km would be exempt from paying the tax. Cars between 121 and 160g CO2/km, would have to pay a tax of 4.75%; between 161 and 200g CO2/km would pay 9,75%; and cars producing more of 200g CO2/km would pay14.75%.
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Catalonia has a direct aid program for 2009 of Euro31.5 million (US$46.8 million) for renovating cars fleets for less pollutant ones. The grants have been set up in two blocks: cars between 120 and 149g CO2/km and cars with more of 149g CO2/km.
Contact Information
Climate Policy
Mrs. Subirà
i Roca
Director General for
Environmental Policies
Ministry of Territory and Sustainability
dgpas.dmah@gencat.cat
Tel: +34 93 444
50 00
Climate Expert
Salvador Samitier
Director of The Catalan
Office for Climate Change
Ministry of Territory and Sustainability
wsamitier@gencat.cat
Tel: +34 93 444 50
00
Key Links
Environment Website (English)
Framework Plan for Mitigation of Climate Change in Catalonia 2008-2012
Catalan Energy
Institute (ICAEN)