GRIM OUTLOOK

SPAIN is one of the EU countries most at risk from the climate crisis, according to an alarming report from a Spanish think-tank.

Madrid-based Instituto Elcano warned that 20% of mainland Spain is already at risk of desertification due to climate change and overexploitation of water, particularly groundwater extraction.

By Alex Trelinski

out where they can be located.

The POEM was created after four years of negotiations with regional governments as well as the fishing and tourism sectors.

Ecological Transition minister, Teresa Ribera, said: "The plan ensures priority for areas that need environmental protection or are linked to national security or maritime transport safety.”

It will be down to Spain's regional governments to process the applications to set up wind farms that can be installed in 19 'industrial' sea zones dotted around the mainland coast and the islands.

Some areas like the Cadiz and Huelva coasts will not see any development due to the need to preserve biodi-

YOU’LL be aware of the frequently referred term net zero, but let me introduce you to jet zero.

Governments have stated their intention to switch to sustainable aircraft fuel by 2050.

This date is destined to be a year of reckoning.

That’s because it’s 27 years away and politicians can kick problems down the road of reckoning.

Airplanes contribute significantly to climate damage. Some 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from planes.

The technology is not in place to allow us to fly guilt free. And year on year we fly more.

Many countries are considering imposing frequent flyer surcharges to try to encourage us to fly less. Taxing cigarettes, alcohol and petrol to death hasn’t stopped us smoking, drinking or driving (maybe there’s a clue here).

It all comes down to investment in alternative technologies. And that costs money.

In the UK, The Royal Society looked at the three other alternatives currently being discussed:

● Biofuel from crops – London Heathrow is the largest global user of biofuels - but this represents just 0.5% of the airport’s fuel.

(It would require more than half of the UK’s farming land to produce sufficient to supply versity. Spain has previously laid out plans to develop as much as three gigawatts of installed offshore capacity by 2030. Tenders are expected to be announced later this year for new projects.

The Doñana National Park in Andalucia, home to one of Europe’s largest wetlands, is under threat