Environmental legislation
Learn about the most important Spanish and European Union legislation on climate change and the environment.
SPAIN
EUROPEAN UNION
SPANISH LAW ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Law 7/2021, of May 20, on climate change and energy transition, has culminated the long road to provide a legal framework for our country's and the EU's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Approved on May 20, 2021, it arrives years late - in December it will be six years since the signing of the Paris Agreement - and amid criticism for its lack of ambition with respect to the European one from most of the parliamentary groups, who nevertheless consider it necessary.
From now on, Spain is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 23% compared to 1990 levels by 2030 . This percentage could be increased in 2023. In addition, renewable energy sources must make up minimum 42% of total energy consumption. Renewable energy sources must also power at least 74% of the electricity grid.
EU CLIMATE LAW
Negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement enshrining in European legislation the EU's objective of climate neutrality by 2050 and a collective target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after removals) by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Other aspects of the provisional agreement include the establishment of a European scientific advisory board on climate change, composed of 15 high-level scientific experts of different nationalities.
The provisional agreement sets an ambitious target for the EU to strive for negative emissions from 2050 onwards. The next stage of the agreement, reached by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament, will be the actual content of the agreement.
