On 8 April 2021, the Spanish Congress of Deputies approved the Climate Change and Energy Transition Act. This new law aims to guide the country towards its goal of climate neutrality by 2050. Among the many points addressed, this law prohibits any new hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation projects in Iberian waters. This is a considerable victory for Alianza Mar Blava, a diverse collective consisting of environmental NGOs, local council, and key stakeholders established to protect the Mediterranean Sea from offshore drilling and exploration. Surfrider Europe supports this fight as an active board member for Alianza Mar Blava; contributing expertise as a primary reference in the fight to protect European waters. Though far from perfect, Spain’s new Climate Law represents a huge step forward in the transition away from fossil fuels and a significant victory that validates the tireless efforts of the citizens and institutions of Alianza Mar Blava.
Climate change Law : a major step forward for the protection of marine ecosystems
Among the key measures, the Climate Law prohibits new exploration and extraction projects of hydrocarbons, fossil fuels and nuclear or radioactive materials in any maritime area under Spanish authority. When it comes into force, it will prevent extraction companies from being granted new research permits or acquiring new exploitation concessions. These newly adopted measures forced the abandonment of 15 pending requests for exploration permits awaiting authorization in the Mediterranean.
If implemented effectively, the measures in this new law will reduce Spain’s greenhouse gas emissions and have a direct positive impact on the climate, biodiversity and marine ecosystems, at the European level. Its forthcoming adoption is therefore a considerable victory for Surfrider Europe’s Coastal Defenders whom have been working for nearly a decade on two separate fights against offshore drilling in the Balearic and Cantabrian Sea.
Strength through unity: a law that marks the victory of the intersectoral organization Alianza Mar Blava
The high ambition and rapid implementation of this historic Spanish law is partly due to the collective action of Alianza Mar Blava’s motivated citizens, Spanish public administrations and environmental associations – including Surfrider Europe and Surfrider Spain.
After campaigning for the creation of protected areas from hydrocarbon exploration, the cross-sectoral Alianza drafted various amendments to tighten the legislative measures in this regard: many demands that were heard and integrated into the text of the law on climate change. In addition, the relevance of its arguments has allowed Alianza Mar Blava to be recognized by the public authorities as an expert on the subject, giving it considerable weight for the future of the fight.
The fight goes on: reduce the 2042 timeline to stop existing permits
Though the approval of the Climate Change Act is clearly something to be celebrated, it is incomprehensible that the text extends to 2042 the possibility of extracting hydrocarbons at sea from existing platforms that are already in operation.
Through the proposal of a new law – the Mediterranean Protection Law drafted by Alianza Mar Blava and the Balearic Government – Alianza Mar Blava and Surfrider Europe are therefore continuing their fight for the dismantling, within 20 years, of all the oil and gas platforms that still have a serious impact on the health of our natural environments.
This victory is the latest in Surfrider’s wider campaign #DrillingIsKilling aimed at ending offshore oil and gas exploitation at the European level: now that the energy transition is underway, let’s make the victory even more beautiful.
