Isabel García Tejerina supports legislative package proposed by European Commission to accelerate transition to low-carbon economy

Isabel García Tejerina underlined Spain's support for this legislative package, "which sends a clear signal to the rest of the world on the nature of the European Union's legal framework for complying with the commitment made under the Paris Agreement".

The package consists of two mutually dependent proposals: one on greenhouse gas emission limits in diffuse sectors; and another on the inclusion of greenhouse gases and dumps stemming from land use, land use changes and forestry under the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework. "The two draft regulations are of key importance to all concerned because they establish the distribution of effort among Member States that will allow us to ascertain the national emissions reduction target in the diffuse sectors for the period 2021-2030 and also establish the rules, flexibilities, corrective actions, etc.", she said.

The Spanish minister believes that the two proposals offer a response to a balanced and equal distribution solution between all countries, which will help us reduce emissions in the diffuse sectors by 30% when compared with 2005. Spain will be working along this line.

More realistic effort

"We want the effort to be more realistic; not only for efforts already made to be taken into consideration but also for other sectors to be considered, such as forestry management, where a capacity exists to combat climate change", stressed the Spanish minister. She went on to add that this is about ensuring these sectors are not ignored and have the right incentives to be used in climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.

Isabel García Tejerina recalled how the European Union and EU Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete in particular played an extremely important role in reaching the Paris Climate Agreement, "and it is important for the EU to be a part of this agreement right from the outset".

The Spanish minister also highlighted the fact that EU ratification has led to the Paris Agreement coming into force ahead of schedule. In fact, the European Union's attitude has encouraged such countries as the United States and China to join up to the agreement. The Spanish minister now hopes that the EU can continue leading the climate change awareness efforts and fight against climate change at an international level.

Isabel García Tejerina stressed that Spain is willing to commit to the reduction target in diffuse sectors that has been allocated to the country in the fight against climate change, thereby joining the effort being made by all Member States, in order to thus comply with the international commitments made by the European Union regarding the targets emerging from the Paris Climate Summit.

Civil aviation emissions and Montreal Protocol

Spain welcomed the agreements adopted recently on reducing emissions from civil aviation, under the ICAO framework, and the Montreal Protocol amendment to reduce HFC emissions.

Furthermore, Spain also expressed its support for the draft Council conclusions on sustainable water management, a declaration that seeks to provide a framework to the political debate aimed at steering the main regulatory developments that will take place as of 2017 in the EU: the legislative proposal on water re-use that the European Commission will present in early 2017; and the future revision of the Water Framework Directive that will conclude in 2019.

The draft conclusions contain the concerns expressed by Spain during the negotiation process and, in particular, those regarding water security and both qualitative and quantitative issues of water management.

Against this backdrop, the unique characteristics of the Mediterranean region within the EU and the importance in this region of traditional regulation infrastructures - within the current context of adaptation to climate change - are acknowledged, as well as the possibilities arising from re-use as a means to tackle water scarcity. Furthermore, as requested by Spain, recognition of the importance of basing water resource management on hydrological planning at a river basin level for sustainable use of this resource is reiterated.

Biological diversity and Nagoya Protocol

Furthermore, Spain supported the draft Council conclusions for preparation of the COP of the Biological Diversity Agreement and the COP-MOP of the Nagoya Protocol, which will take place in Cancun (Mexico) in December.
"Spain shares the priorities and supports the proposed considerations and actions on the conservation of biodiversity, thereby maintaining its firm position on stopping the loss of diversity. By adopting these conclusions, we can ensure that the European Union travels to Cancun with a clear position that will enable progress to be made on implementing the Agreement and its Strategic Plan", stressed the Spanish minister.