Could Spain take a leaf out of France’s book and put an end to short-haul flights? What other initiatives is Spain thinking up for a greener future? Our resident writer, Sally, takes a look.
Spain is still without an official government following the general election in July. The former Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchéz, PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español) is the caretaker PM while the opposition leader, Alberto Feijóo of the PP (Partido Popular) tries to form a government which is looking unlikely. If he fails, Mr Sanchéz will try to do likewise counting on the support of smaller, regional parties including the Catalans who still seek independence. If he gives them too much for their support, he will anger many in Spain and therefore he may not be able to satisfy their demands. That will mean another General Election!
Beyond this headline-grabbing news, we look at some new changes to daily life in Spain.
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Is it the end to short-haul flights in Spain?
Trains over planes?
Following a law in France to ban short-haul flights where there are equivalent train journeys (currently 3 routes including Toulouse to Barcelona), the debate is being hotly contested here in Spain. The answer must be in biofuel, the green option for planes. If you think that this will happen in the future, you would be wrong!
It is happening now in Spain. The energy giant Cepsa has been producing a biofuel which doesn’t pollute at its installation in Huelva province and Seville airport is the first to be using the fuel for aircraft landing there. Believe it or not, the fuel is produced from household waste and used cooking oil. Every town has brown “organic” bins and the contents discarded in them go to make the new green fuel.
Cepsa’s biofuel is being bought by other Spanish airports too, including Madrid, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona. For now, the fuel is only suitable for short haul flights but most Spanish airlines and also Etihad and Ryanair are proposing to use it. So next time you throw some vegetables in the brown, organic bin, consider that they might be taking you on your next trip!
Time to ditch the (plastic) bottle
Spain say no to plastic bottles.
A while ago, it became law that restaurants and bars must serve tap water if it is requested. While bottled water is still the norm, more and more people are asking for tap water, which is free.
When you consider that the average cost of a litre of tap water in Spain will set you back €0,00191 and you will probably pay €0,25 for a small own label bottle or even €2 for a larger upmarket brand, financially there is no contest.
However, the reason for ditching bottled water is just that….the bottle. Some studies claim that bottled water is 3,500 times more polluting than tap water.
Spain is keen to reduce the billions of plastic bottles that end up on beaches, in the sea and even in our bodies!
2027: the year of the recyclable battery
The EU has brought in new regulations concerning batteries of all types, from your mobile phone to cars, which by 2027 must be recyclable. In principle, it means that recovering valuable material such as lithium. This will allow the EU countries to use them to produce new batteries. At the moment, most batteries are imported from eastern countries. It is hoped that in 2027, 63% of battery material can be salvaged and reused and 73% five years after that.
Optical illusions to make roads safer
It sounds odd. The idea that having an optical illusion on the road would make them safe.
But…
Strange new road markings are appearing at some entrances to towns and villages. Dubbed “dragon’s teeth”, they are triangles pointing away from the kerb on both sides of the road. They are supposed to make drivers automatically slow down after leaving a faster road as they are an optical illusion, appearing to narrow the road. Actually, a driver can drive over them but the traffic authority hopes they will prevent sudden braking when a lower speed limit appears.
Rather more disturbing road markings are 3D pedestrian crossings. Also in place to make a driver slow down, they appear to be “hanging” above the road as you approach, therefore you naturally brake. One wonders how many accidents they actually cause, since the driver behind may not see them and will crash into your car. Apparently, this is not the case according to the DGT, Spain’s traffic authority.
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