Brilliant-online-magazine-June-2022

SPAIN IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVABLE AND MANAGEABLE

✦ Beyond the sun and the partying, Spain has a serious side where they are quietly implementing measures to make sustainability a key characteristic of the country.

As a people, the Spanish are very environmentally conscious. Besides separating plastics, glass, cardboard/paper and organic waste, people take each individual bag of rubbish down to the huge recycling bins that are conveniently located in many streets or to each building's individual bins.

Spain also has what is known as 'puntos limpios', some of which are really just a small truck or van that is parked by the street and where you can bring certain products that cannot go into the normal waste bins. These include batteries, contaminants, paint, electrical goods such as cables, plugs, devices and even used cooking oil.

Citizens can check online where their nearest punto limpio is and the schedule and bring their rubbish there to be safely disposed of.

As you move beyond the humble household, ESG can be seen in many areas.

Since January 2019, only zeroemission vehicles (electrical and ECO vehicles e.g. hybrids and PLG) are allowed in the centre of Madrid.

Spain has also introduced gender equality plans involving equal pay between men and women and gender pay transparency in 2021. Companies with 100 or more employees are required to negotiate an equality plan by 7 March 2021, while companies with 50 or more employees must negotiate an equality plan by 7 Mar 2022. Those that already have an equality plan must ensure its compliance with the new decree by 14 January 2022.

The Urgency of Sustainability

Spain is the first country in the European Union to adapt national plans to bring an end to climate change, according to the report entitled Planning for Net Zero

An example of Barcelona's eco-friendly building

Emissions 2019 by the European Climate Foundation.

If we were to look at what Spain has been doing so far and its upcoming plans, one would have to say they are certainly doing their part, and it is a clear sign of commitment to making a difference:

• In 2018 Spain announced an environmental policy to end its dependence on fossil fuels and draw 75% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, rising to 100% by 2050.

• Spain aims to completely decarbonize its economy and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 90% against 1990 levels.

• Spain has stopped issuing new licences for oil and gas exploration and closed most of its coal mines.

• The country is running down its nuclear energy program and is instead retraining workers in clean energy jobs and environmental restoration.

• Spain is beefing up its renewable energy program focusing on solar and wind energies. The government has committed to installing at least 3,000 megawatts of wind and solar power capacity every year over the next ten years.

Beyond Good Food

Beyond the beautiful Mediterranean cuisine, I was really impressed at how self-sufficient Spain really is. One could say it is a land of plenty with its rich agricultural heritage. In fact, Spain is home to several Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), as declared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

GIAHS are "outstanding landscapes of aesthetic beauty that combine agricultural diversity, resilient ecosystems and a valuable cultural heritage… They are a living, evolving ecosystem of human communities in an intricate relationship with their territory, cultural or agricultural landscape, or wider social environment.” (Source: Food and Wines from Spain)

Climate change and migration are just some of the issues that can lead to the disappearance of these systems. This means a loss of traditional farming techniques and native species. These systems have paved the way for the agricultural innovation technology we have today and these systems need protecting.

Spain has four GIAHS:

1. Valle Salado, in the Basque Country

2. The raisin route in La Axarquía, Málaga

3. The ancient olive groves in Sénia, Tarragona

4. The L’Horta irrigation system in Valencia

The Salt of the Earth

Located in the town of Salinas de Añana, in the Basque Country’s Álava province, the Valle Salado has a unique salt bubble where you can find salt water springs. Spain is working to protect this landscape and bring back the ancient salt extraction techniques. It is also a way to keep the economy of the community going. Tourism is helping to give the area a boost, and it is considered to be on its way to an economically sustainable recovery. As the region continues to work on being financially selfsufficient, employment is starting to grow.

A Sweet and Wrinkly Grape

Málaga has the perfect climate and soil for Muscat grapes. These are turned into both raisins and muscatel wine. In the area of La Axarquía, there is a precious raisin production technique that is centuries-old. Spain has been able to preserve these cultivation techniques from Phonecian times. Now there is a revival of interest in this agricultural system and local farmers are working hard to maintain these traditions. The humble raisin has become an important part of the local economy, not only preserving it financially but also in terms of its terrain in preventing erosion and desertification.

Tree of Life

There are ancient olive trees in Sénia, Tarragona which are 5000 years old. Just thinking about that is enough to make one awestruck. These trees need to be constantly protected. Both the public and private sectors in Spain are working together to develop the olive oil tourism industry there as a way to preserve the ancient trees. The local community and farmers are involved and the country has done much work to increase awareness of the need to boost local businesses and gastronomy.

Water, water everywhere...

... and there is plenty to drink here. L’Horta in Valencia is showing the world how sustainable irrigation is done. The irrigation system there extends over 28 sq km across more than 12 municipalities. There are 6,000 agricultural holdings in the area which are fed by the Turia River using a gravity-based system. Designed in the 18th century, the country has managed to preserve the original ditches and hydraulic spaces. And they continue to function today. The land is used to grow fruits and vegetables such as pumpkins, onions and lettuce.

You are my sunshine

Totana in the south of Spain is a massive solar energy system. The area gets nearly 2,800 hours a year. The Totana Solar Plan, operated by Enel Green Power (EGP), contributes 85 megawatts of electricity to Spain's national power network. This is literally the size of Spain's commitment to fighting climate change. They are proactively finding ways to source and harness renewable energy and make it accessible and affordable. Furthermore, the Totana Solar Plant is generating enough clean energy to save the emission of around 104,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

The answer is blowing in the wind...

With 27,446 MW of accumulated capacity, wind energy is the second source of electrical generation in Spain in 2020. Spain is the fifth country in the world in terms of installed wind power after China, the US, Germany and India. There are 1265 wind farms peppered across Spain in more than 1,000 municipalities.

Spain has more wind and sun than any other European country. Spain is seeing wind power continue to grow and according to the National Integrated Energy and Climate

Plan (PNIEC), released last year, the installed capacity of wind turbines will almost double between now and 2030.

For Spain, 2021 was the most expensive year for energy in history, and the citizens are all feeling the burn. If Spain can get more wind turbines and solar panels to beef up the grid, the less consumers and companies will have to pay to buy their power from the regulated market (PVPC).

So yes, climate change and environmental problems are scary, depressing and heavy, AND it is also possible to make a change from where we all are. We will never have a perfect world and get it all perfectly right. As they say, if nothing changes, nothing changes! Spain is doing its bit as a country on this planet, and every single individual, every family is a microcosm that can still do their best to bring a bit of balm and relief to the environment. Perhaps that will be enough to simply make a start. Right now.

Centennial Olive Trees from Mediterranean Mallorca