Spain aims for sustainability in 25 years
Spain aims for sustainability in 25 years
Keywords: Spain, Central government, Sustainable development, Economic growth
Spanish environment minister Jaume Matas recently presented detailed proposals for a national sustainable development strategy, aiming to achieve sustainability in Spain within 25 years. The consultation document lists seven general areas for action: economic growth, employment and competivity;management of natural resources; training and technical research and innovation;territorial and social cohesion; action on climate change and air pollution;sustainable tourism and waste management and minimisation.
Three specific goals proposed are to plant 320m trees by 2008, to reuse 1,200m cubic metres of water per annum, and to install solar roof panels on 3m Spanish homes within ten years. Mr Matas underlined the strategy's importance for Spain saying: "Spaniards produce 30 per cent more waste per head than seven years ago and carbon dioxide emissions are rising faster than growth in GDP". He acknowledged "the difficulties that will be faced" in doubling renewable energy production to 12 per cent by 2010 to comply with Kyoto but discounted nuclear power as an alternative means of CO2reduction.
