Murcia lags behind most of Spain on cutting carbon emissions
The Region of Murcia has cut emissions by around 12% since 2019, compared to a national average of 17%
The Region of Murcia has made progress in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, but it's doing so more slowly than the majority of Spain's other autonomous communities, according to a new report from BBVA Research published this week.
The report analyses how Spain's economy has managed to grow while simultaneously reducing emissions between 2019 and 2024, crediting the push for renewables, improvements in energy efficiency and modernisation of production. Every community recorded a reduction over the period, but the differences between regions are significant.
Galicia and Aragon led the way with reductions close to 30%, well above the national average of 17%. Cantabria, Andalucia and La Rioja also performed strongly, each coming in slightly above 20%. Murcia, by contrast, recorded a reduction of around 12%, placing it towards the lower end of the national table. Only Extremadura, at 1%, and Castilla-La Mancha, at 4%, fared worse.
According to BBVA Research, the gaps between regions come down to differences in their productive structures, the degree to which industries have electrified, the weight of the energy sector locally and how quickly new technologies have been adopted.
Looking at emissions per head of population relative to regional income, the report highlights Asturias and Madrid as opposite extremes. Asturias, one of the lower-income regions, has the highest greenhouse gas emissions intensity, reflecting its heavy industrial and energy sectors. Madrid sits above average too despite its higher income level.
From a sectoral point of view, the data shows that the vast majority of emissions across Spain are concentrated in a small number of industries, primarily energy, transport and agriculture, which, as BBVA Research points out, generate most of the climate pressure despite contributing a relatively limited share of overall economic output.
Image: Freepik
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