Inici » The climate impact of the Catalan Countries: a critical analysis

The climate impact of the Catalan Countries: a critical analysis

by PREMIUM.CAT
29/01/2025 | 06:00 ¿Qué responsabilidad climática tienen los Países Catalanes? CRÍTIC te cuenta lo que ningún gobierno se atreve a hacer público: en conjunto, los territorios catalanes multiplican por 6 las 2,2 toneladas de CO2e que se consideran compatibles con un aumento máximo de 1,5 °C de la temperatura del planeta a finales de siglo. En Baleares superan en 8,5 veces el límite de seguridad climática; en Cataluña, más de 5. Mientras las élites reclaman ampliaciones de aeropuertos, puertos y autopistas y qué(8k, mejor calidad, obra maestra, muy detallado:1.1)

A worrying scenario: uncontrolled emissions

The Catalan Countries face an alarming reality in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These lands currently generate six times more CO2e than is considered safe to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5°C. The Balearic Islands exceed this figure with an increase of 8.5 times, while Catalonia is at more than 5.

The lack of transparency in climate data

One of the major shortcomings is the lack of accessible information on emissions. Currently, official data only goes back to 2022, leaving citizens unaware of their annual climate footprint. Furthermore, there is no information on external emissions associated with our consumption, such as those generated in the production of goods that we import.

The Climate Trace paper

But it’s not all bad news. Climate Trace, a project of Al Gore, offers an innovative platform for monitoring emissions at a global level. This tool combines satellites and artificial intelligence to provide accurate data on emissions, including those that states do not report.

The alarming increase in emissions in Catalonia

Catalonia has experienced a 25% increase in its emissions since 1990. This contrasts with the European Union’s goal of reducing emissions by 55% by 2030. The data reveals that Catalonia has gone from 34.2 to 42.78 million tons of CO2e between 1990 and 2024.

Transportation as the main source of emissions

The transport sector is responsible for more than a third of emissions in Catalonia. If we include oil refining, this figure exceeds 41%. Authorities often hide the real impact of this sector, which is essential for decarbonization.

Shocking data on energy production

Contrary to popular belief, energy production only represents a fraction of total emissions. Only 10% comes from electricity generation, while emissions from waste treatment and domestic energy consumption are significantly higher.

The Balearics, an extreme case of emissions per capita

The Balearic Islands lead the statistics in per capita emissions, with more than 54% of GHGs coming from transport. Dependence on tourism and massive imports of goods have contributed to this unsustainable situation.

A critical look at the climate footprint

At a global level, the Catalan Countries have an alarming climate footprint, with 13.36 tons of CO2e per inhabitant. This figure exceeds the European Union average and is close to countries with high emissions such as Germany and Denmark. It is clear that our way of living and consuming is six times more harmful to the climate than what would be sustainable.

Urgent action by the authorities

With the current climate situation marked by extreme events, it is crucial that authorities take immediate action. The growing pressure from tourism and transport cannot continue to be ignored if we are to avoid an irreversible climate disaster. It is time for our political and economic leaders to commit to real change to preserve our planet.

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