Sciences Po Paris
Fall 2013-2014
Climate Change: A Political Introduction – Dr. GEMENNE
Climate Change Position Paper
Country: Spain
Delegates:
Pia Chaib,
Samantha Elia Abou Jaoudeh
Climate change has become today one of the most pressing issues on the international
scene. The world’s climate is changing at an alarming rate due to a rise in greenhouse gas
emissions, leading to severe consequences all around the world. These accelerating changes do
not only affect the environment but also the countries’ economies and the people’s health and
daily lives, and vulnerable countries such as Spain are mostly paying the price. International
actions such as the Kyoto protocol have been pursued under the UNFCCC, however this protocol
expired in 2012 with its follow-up agreement still under negotiation. Therefore, Spain pleads all
countries to open their eyes to the reality we are facing today, and calls attention to the urgency
of agreeing on the future of the Kyoto Protocol and adopting a new international climate
agreement.
Spain is one of the most highly vulnerable countries to climate change, and is in danger
more than any other European country. In fact, climate change impacts Spain on different levels.
According to the Spanish Meteorological Agency, air and sea temperature are rising slightly
more in Spain than in the rest of the European Union. Air temperature is expected to rise about 4
degrees by 2080, causing extreme summers and heat waves like in 2003 to be more regular.
Furthermore, Spain is facing serious droughts and decreases in rainfall, especially in the Iberian
Peninsula. Also, a Pyrenean glacial retreat is occurring at an increasing melting rate: 90%
already melted in the previous century and the rest is expected to disappear in the next decades.
Southern Spain’s climate is becoming more and more African while the north is becoming more
and more Mediterranean. All these changes will heavily impact the Spanish agriculture, forestry
and tourism which are key sectors in the Spanish economy. Moreover, it will have consequences
on soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, increases in the acidity of oceans, causing dangers to
the Spanish people’s lives. What is frightening is that many of these consequences are already
happening, which underlines Spain’s urgency for mitigation and adaptation measures on the
national and international levels.
Nowadays, Spain sees the climate change policies as one of the 3 most important issues
on the agenda. The country did actually take many actions on the national as well as on the
international level to reduce its greenhouse gas emission. Domestically speaking, various factors
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underline Spain’s continuous and deep involvement in the climate change issue. First, Spain
created different advisory and coordination institutions such as the National Council on Climate
created in 1998, the Coordination Committee for Climate Change Policies (CCPCC) created in
2005, the Inter-ministerial group for Climate Change, the Delegate Government Commission for
Climate Change (CDGCC) created in 2008. In addition to these bodies there are many NGOs,
civil society, researchers, trade and labor unions that are also in charge of protecting the climate.
Second, Spain endorsed various policies related to the climate. For instance, in 2004, Spain
launched the National Allocation Plan NAP that establishes the allowances to be shared by
activities and details the use of flexible mechanisms. Another policy endorsed is the Spanish
Strategy of Climate Change and Clean Energy (EECCEL) which have medium-long term
guidelines to reduce GHG emissions. Spain also recognized urgent measures plan that have a
wide effect on transport, waste management, residential, energy, forestry, and innovation; noting
that for each of these sectors was launched a specific strategy. Additionally, a National Climate
Change Adaptation Plan PNACC was introduced by Spain in 2006. Nevertheless, the main focus
of the Spanish government was on renewable technologies and energy; which mainly
concentrated on energy policy as well as on Strategy for energy savings and efficiency for Spain.
This technology made Spain one of the world references in the field of renewable energy. In fact,
it is the 5th in the world’s ranking with 54% of its electricity generated by renewable energies.
This percentage is even expected to increase since the country is further developing its wind
(target of 40% by 2020), hydropower and solar power. Thirdly, many Autonomous communities
and Local entities were also working towards fulfilling the national target of reducing GHD
emissions as all well as on awareness. Two of these communities are the Spanish Network of
cities for Climate Change RECC and The National Registry for GHD Allowances RENADE.
On the International level, Spain ratified the Kyoto protocol in 2002 and it had the target
not to increase more than 15 % the Carbon emission. In addition to the Kyoto protocol, Spain is
committed to the European Union 2020 target emission. It is using in particular its flexible
mechanisms, which is mainly the Clean Development Mechanism CDM. Therefore CDM is
considered to be a key cooperation element for Spain on the International scene. Furthermore,
Spain is investing in Latin America in the fields of energetic and waste management (Ibero
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American Climate Change Bureau Network RIOCC). Finally, Spain has signed various
commitments with financial multilateral institutions in the Carbon Market and is a partner of the
Carbon Partnership Facility CPF.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Federico Ramos, said that "we are one of the
countries most committed to the fight against climate change". Spain has shown until today
strong commitment to tackle the issue on the national scale, strong willingness to cooperate with
countries worldwide, and suggests considering the following recommendations for the future
international climate agreement.
1. First, since climate change requires an international response, the future agreement must
contain requirements for both developed and developing countries and global
participation, unlike the Kyoto protocol that imposed binding targets only to annex I
countries.
2. Moreover, the agreement’s focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies is not enough
anymore since some countries are already facing severe losses and damages. In that
respect, it should furthermore incorporate and examine a system of compensation for the
vulnerable countries to hold large green-house gas emitters accountable. Spain agrees to
allocate a percentage of its development aid for the most vulnerable countries to resist
and adapt to the effects of climate change. For example, Spain has stood beside the
Philippines during its recent unprecedented difficult situation.
3. Additionally, it is important to benefit from and improve the architecture that the Kyoto
Protocol has put in place: Spain demands to maintain the credit markets and clean
development mechanism. Spain recognizes their defects and thus will accept some
modifications; however it will not tolerate their abolition as they are crucial tools for
reducing the Spanish carbon emissions.
4. Finally and most importantly, Spain strongly encourages the use of clean renewable
energy systems for energy efficiency, and reduction of investments in coal-fired power
plants and fossil fuel.
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To conclude, Spain is one of the most active partner in addressing climate change and
broader environmental issues. Even though it did not reach the Kyoto targets, it took many
national and international climate actions reaffirming its strong commitment to fight against
climate change. Spain believes that a follow up to the Kyoto protocol is needed, or else every
country will be heavily affected by climate change. No country can reach affective goals
unilaterally and a new international agreement is crucial for further development. Therefore
Spain hopes that there will be an open and fair discussion in the next COP meeting and expects
all the countries to reach a conclusion concerning the agreement because time is running against
us.
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References
Energias Renovables. (May 9, 2013). Spain, fifth in the world in patents in renewable. Retrieved
from: http://www.energias-renovables.com/articulo/espana-ocupa-el-quinto-lugarmundial-en-20130508
Loomanz, T. (2013). Spain Produced 54 Percent of its Electricity from Renewable Sources in
April. Retrived from: http://inhabitat.com/spain-produced-54-percent-of-its-electricityfrom-renewable-sources-in-april/
Barcelona Climate Change talks (2013). Spanish climate change policy. Retrived from:
http://www.bcn.cat/climatechange/en/politiques-espanyoles.html
Center for Climate Adaptation. (2013). Climate Change Spain. Retrived from:
http://www.climateadaptation.eu/spain/climate-change/
Real Instituto Elcano (2008). In Spain's interest: A Committed Foreign Policy. Retrieved from:
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_eng/Content?WCM_GLOBAL_C
ONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/demography+population/00027
Magrama (2013). The ministerial segment of the UN climate summit in Warsaw (Poland) starts
this week. Retrieved from: http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/prensa/noticias/el-tramoministerial-de-la-cumbre-del-clima-de-varsovia--(polonia)-arranca-esta-semana-/tcm7307604-16
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment Website: www. magrama.gob.es
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