Balearics to go green on energy by 2035

If you’re planning to expatriate to Spain’s Balearic Islands, you should note the toughening of laws regarding carbon dioxide emissions from cars.

Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are all expected to be affected by the Balearics government’s soon to be activated new laws on climate change. Proposals include the banning of all diesel vehicles arriving from the European mainland by 2025, and all petrol-fuelled vehicles by 2035. Two years from now, all car rental companies will be forced to have at least two per cent of electric vehicles in their hire car fleet. By 15 years from now, all hire cars on the island will be electrically powered.

After 2025, no diesel-fuelled cars will be sold, and by 2035 the ban will have been extended to petrol-fuelled cars. The new laws are an attempt to eliminate the 35 per cent of CO2 emissions arising from road traffic, but no new rules have been published in relation to the high number of diesel and petrol-fuelled boats in use across the archipelago. Island lawmakers are also pushing for the closure of all power stations and their replacement by solar panels installed on new building, in large car parks and on industrial premises of more than 1,000 square metres in size.

At the present time, only two per cent of the power used in he archipelago is sourced from renewable energy, with local councils now being given five years to replace every public lighting bulb with its LED equivalent. By 2035, all public transport on the island will be electrically powered, and the entire archipelago will hopefully be in accord with the international commitments stated in the Paris Agreement The proposals are due to be put before the public for consultation prior to their being approved.