Sustainable transport is one of the main pillars of the fight against climate change. It represents a fundamental contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.. This perspective has strengthened in Spain in recent years.
There is currently a wide range of projects which, combined with favorable public policies, are beginning to show results. The ultimate objective is to ensure the predominance of the use of sustainable transport.. The public sector and a large part of the private sector are committed to this.
Traditionally, Transport in Spain has been dominated by the use of internal combustion vehicleswith high consumption of fossil fuels. However, from the 2000s, we began to become aware of the negative effects of conventional transport on the environment. This has led to the implementation of policies and programs aimed at encouraging more sustainable alternatives.
a little history
The evolution of sustainable transport It is mainly defined by changes to one crucial factor: the engine.. The precursor to modern engines was invented by Etienne Lenoir in 1860 and was internal combustion. A little later, Nikolaus Otto improved this technology and developed the first four-stroke engine.
It was Gottlieb Daimler who introduced the concept of the four-wheeled vehicle in 1889. He thus marked an important step in the transition to the modern automobile. In 1892, Rudolf Diesel presented the famous diesel engine. which had alternative combustion and was initially designed only for heavy machinery. However, in 1936, Mercedes-Benz launched the first passenger car with a diesel engine.
Diesel-powered vehicles have been massively adopted in Spain and Europe. Concerns quickly arose due to its high contamination potential.. This led to the introduction of AdBluean additive that reduces particle and nitrogen oxide emissions by 99%.
In recent years, it has been discovered that many diesel vehicles produce more pollutants than recognized. This is how the scandal known as “Dieslegate” arose. This and increasing climate change interest in more sustainable alternatives has increasedsuch as electric, hydrogen and natural gas vehicles.
Public initiatives and policies
The Spanish government has developed a series of initiatives over the past two decades to promote sustainable transportation. Some of the highlights include:
- Renewable energy plan: This plan sets clear objectives to increase the share of renewable energies in transport.
- Sustainable mobility strategy: Programs have been designed to encourage the use of cycling, walking and public transport, as well as to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
- Subsidies and aid: Economic incentives have been put in place for the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations.
Regulatory developments
Conventional transport represents 25% of total greenhouse gases issued in Europe. This is why, over the last decade, Spain has implemented a series of initiatives and regulations to move towards sustainable transport in the country.
THE the most representative stages are as follows:
- Law 34/2007. Promote the first sustainable urban mobility plans.
- Spanish Sustainable Mobility Strategy of 2009. It provided a more concrete framework, dealing with air quality, noise reduction and road safety.
- Paris Agreement in 2015. Increased awareness of the importance of change in the transportation system
- National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNIEC). It defines sustainable mobility as a key element of the country’s ecological transition.
- Law 7/2021. Sets the objective of achieving a vehicle fleet without direct CO2 emissions by 2050.
- Royal Decree-Law 29/2021. It included measures to promote electric mobility, such as the obligation to install charging stations at gas stations.
- Royal Decree 184/2022. Regulated charging services for electric vehicles.
- Low Emission Zones (ZBE). From 2023, municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants will have to adopt sustainable urban mobility plans.
Great prospects
Sustainable transport in Spain has made great progress. Buses already use biogas on the routes in Zaragoza and Cuarte de Huerva, as well as in Bilbao, among others. In cities like Barcelona and San Sebastian, electric buses have made an important contribution. For its part, Madrid has launched a hydrogen taxi program.
In the railway sector, Talgo works on hydrogen models, with brake charging systems. In aviation, Iberia flies with SAF biofuel and the EU is promoting its adoption regionally. In the maritime sector, the Baleària shipping company has operated biomethane routes and electric catamarans.
In the meantime, The metros of several cities, such as Malaga and Barcelona, contract renewable electricity. Madrid has implemented the Energy Savings Plan to optimize consumption. With these initiatives, Spanish public transport is aiming for progressive and sustainable decarbonization.
As the country remains committed to sustainability, these initiatives are likely to be further consolidated, contributing to a cleaner and healthier future for all.
Recommended Reading
Experiments on sustainable transport
Evolution of sustainable urban mobility plans
