economic growth as it occurs today, is concerned with large-scale production and not to ensure the long-term production, depleting resources, using inefficient production processes, generating tons of waste ... Therefore, environmental policy should set certain standards for development to be sustainable.
In Spain we have the report "Environmental Profile Spain 2004" which gives an overview of the environmental situation in close temporal perspective of our country, analyzing the data obtained between 1990 and 2001.
Throughout the English geography, there are notable differences: the coast and near Madrid account for 52% of the population (percentage increases in the summer), which contrasts with other communities such as Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla and León Extremadura that would be comparatively desertified. This means that there is an imbalance, having more populous areas, constructed, deforested, polluted ... than others. Furthermore, the first feature with a higher concentration of the less friendly to the environment, such as construction, tourism and transport. To this we must add the transport model in Spain, where transport river is only available (for the lack of navigable rivers), and prevail less sustainable modes of transport such as aviation and road, to the detriment of the sea and rail.
Regarding air quality, since 1990 emissions of greenhouse gases increased by 32'1% (a 52'88% by 2005 according to World Watch Spain), when the Kyoto commitments set the increase in 15% until 2010. This is only 7 years in Spain and exceeded the agreed limit, with an upward trend since. Acidifying emissions have not had a very favorable, and although they have reduced emissions of sulfur a 34'7%, have increased NOx by 10.5% and 16% ammonia.
On land, increased waste generation (45%) has caused increasing problems relating to their management. These residues are also poorly recovered and recycled (eg glass recycling rate stands at 36%). This last point, coupled with land fragmentation caused by infrastructure and other harmful processes resulting from industrialization, is threatening biodiversity, found 24% of all vertebrate species in the country under some kind of threat, while some are even endangered. To this we must add the overexploitation of fish stocks that although could have benefited from the numerical reduction of the fleet, has been the opposite effect by increasing the ability to capture it.
Regarding the use of resources, eco-efficiency is insufficient, rising urban water consumption, energy by 3% per annum for each year of the period analyzed, and the synthetic fertilizers and plungicidas. The use of renewable energy is very low and represents only 6.5% of the country's primary energy.
Nevertheless, one could say that there is a tendency positive, as long as public awareness is becoming more and has improved in areas such as groundwater contamination by nitrates, the increase in protected natural areas or pollution of rivers by organic matter.
Regarding pollution, I thought the issue of externalities, particularly those related to the emission of gases into the atmosphere by the enterprises, and flattering to be the CO2 quotas so as to could trade with them, creating something like a pollution market, in which polluting companies would be "penalized" by must buy the least polluting their quotas, they received some sort of subsidy to be more committed to the environment. What I do not know is that this is taking place in the European Union since January 2005 and called Trading System of Greenhouse Gas Emissions . His first year of operation was a success: it is estimated that 240 million rights traded worth 500 million euros. This amount, this market position as one of the most important commodity exchange and are expected to occupy the first position within three years. No doubt this initiative is very beneficial for environment and encourage closer to the Kyoto Protocol commitments.
Still, there is still a long way to go, not only in Spain but throughout the world, so that future generations can receive the planet in acceptable condition.
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