sum spa01

Distr.

GENERAL

FCCC/IDR.1(SUM)/ESP

10 July 1996

Original: ENGLISH

SUMMARY

of the

REPORT ON THE IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATION

SPAIN

(The full text of the report (in English only) is contained in document FCCC/IDR.1/ESP)

Review team:

Roberto Acosta Moreno, Cuba

Omar Masera, Mexico

Maria Gabriela Martins Borrego, Portugal

Lucas Assunção, UNFCCC secretariat, Coordinator

Also available on the World Wide Web (http://www.unep.ch/iucc.html)

GE.96-

Summary⁽¹⁾

1. The in-depth review of Spain was carried out between September 1995 and March 1996 and included a visit to Madrid from 25 to 29 September 1995. The review team included experts from Cuba, Mexico and Portugal.

2. According to the National Energy Plan 1991-2000 (which assumes an average annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 3.6 per cent in the 1990s), Spain was initially committed to limiting to 25 per cent the growth in its energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the decade. A "without measures" scenario points to a 45 per cent growth in the same period. Recent growth estimates provided during the in-depth review indicate that energy-related CO₂ emissions will rise by less than originally expected. A medium economic growth scenario assuming an average annual GDP growth rate of 3 per cent from 1995 to 2000 shows that energy-related CO₂ emissions could be 15 per cent higher than 1990 levels by 2000. This downward revision is explained by a lower than expected economic growth from 1991 to 1994, as well as by the early results of some of the programmes in the energy savings and efficiency plan (PAEE), the gradual replacement of low-quality domestic coal by higher quality imported coal and the increasing share of natural gas in total energy supply.

3. Spain's mitigation measures are mainly based on the increasing inroads of natural gas in total energy supply, on efforts to save energy in fuel combustion, including co-generation, and on attempts to increase energy efficiency in the energy and industrial sectors. In this respect, all measures being implemented or envisaged are "no-regrets" measures which target CO₂ emissions in the energy sector only. The fuel substitution programme within PAEE aims at enhancing the role of natural gas in energy production and use. By 1995, it had achieved less than 26 per cent of its potential. The entering into operation of the Maghreb gas pipeline from Algeria planned for late 1996 is expected to generate significant emission reductions in the second part of this decade. The PAEE projected a 12 per cent increase in energy efficiency in the Spanish economy for the period 1990-2000. By 1995, the actual increase achieved amounted to roughly 4.4 per cent.

4. Spain has not implemented measures to reduce CO₂ emissions in sectors other than energy production and use and none of the measures reported target methane (CH₄) or nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. During the review, however, additional information was provided on measures to increase Spain's sink capacity by 2000. Also during the review, a draft of the National Climate Programme was made available. This recently announced programme describes two new lines of action, namely support for climate change research and a mechanism to assess future mitigation policy options. It contemplates additional annual funding of US$ 4 million for climate change research programmes, but it does not earmark funding for proposed mitigation measures.

5. The team agreed with the opinion expressed by government officials regarding the substantial potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in the urban transport, residential and waste sectors and suggested that information be provided in the next communication on measures that could be implemented in these sectors.

6. The in-depth review of inventories was prepared and conducted in a most transparent and facilitative manner. As a result, the presentation of Spain's GHG inventories was greatly improved during the review. The Spanish inventories were prepared based on the CORINAIR⁽²⁾ methodology and covered the main GHGs and precursors. For most emission categories the emission factors used were estimated in accordance with national conditions following the CORINAIR method. Default factors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology were used only in some cases for the land-use and forestry category. For all estimations, emission factors used were clearly reported in the supplementary documentation and activity levels obtained from official national statistics, allowing for the reconstruction of the inventory. A commendable effort has been made in Spain in overcoming inadequacies arising from the conversion of CORINAIR results into the IPCC reporting format. Most of the omissions and inadequacies originally detected in the inventories were rectified and clarified during the review. Major revisions were made to total CO₂ and fuel combustion emissions and in the estimated CO₂ sequestration capacity in 1990.

7. Important research and monitoring activities are under way in Spain with direct relevance to climate change monitoring and assessment. During the review, the team was informed that the need has been identified for promoting intersectoral studies on possible socio-economic impacts of climate change, especially the extent to which climate change could affect important sectors of the economy such as tourism.

8. Spain contributed US$ 14.1 million to the pilot phase of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and US$ 17.3 million to its first phase. During the review visit, information was made available regarding Spain's official development assistance (ODA) for the period 1989-1994. The ODA/GDP ratio was 0.29 per cent in 1994 and 0.25 in 1995, although it was intended to reach 0.35 in 1995. The decrease in assistance was due to cuts in the State budget in order to comply with commitments made in moving towards an European monetary union. No new initiatives regarding technology transfer were reported during the review. The communication, however, mentioned existing programmes to promote technological innovation and the dissemination of technologies in developing countries. It also described Spain's initiatives in Bolivia and North Africa in the area of photovoltaic electricity production .

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1. 1 In accordance with decision 2/CP.1 (see FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1), the full draft of this report was communicated to the Spanish Government, which had no further comments.

2. 2 CORINAIR is the component dealing with air emissions inventories of the European Economic Community CORINE (Coordination d'information environnementale) programme.