Balearic Islands wins the battle against new diesel cars; they will not be allowed to circulate from 2025 onwards

The Balearic Islands have just passed the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law. This new law will prevent the circulation of new diesel cars on the islands from 2025 onwards. In addition, this ban will be extended to new petrol vehicles from 2035. With this new law, the Balearic Islands are getting ahead of the ban on vehicles powered by fossil fuels planned by the European Union for the year 2050.

This ban also covers traffic restrictions on vans and lorries. It should be noted that municipalities will be able to restrict traffic in areas where pre-set air quality values are exceeded. The only vehicles exempt from this environmental regulation are cars in the Balearic vehicle fleet registered before the date of approval. These may continue to circulate until the end of their useful life.

Commitment to renewable energies

The law just passed in the Balearic Islands provides, in addition to the ban on diesel cars from 2025 and petrol cars from 2035, the requirement that car rental companies progressively incorporate electric vehicles into their fleets, moving from 2% in 2020 to 100% by 2035.

The promotion of renewable energies is also a fundamental point of this new proposal. Under it, solar panels will have to be installed in public car parks. It also provides for the progressive closure of thermal power plants such as Es Murterar, in Alcudia. The same goal will apply to those located in Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

With this new Climate Change and Energy Transition Law, the Balearic Islands will provide municipalities with tools to restrict vehicle circulation in areas with high pollution through regulations. Restrictions will also be applied to the nautical and aviation sectors. The new Balearic regulation includes a section that must encourage the generation of renewable energy. A clear example is the installation of photovoltaic panels in public car parks.

Regulation met with rejection

The law banning the circulation of new diesel cars in 2025 and petrol cars in 2035 has caused some rejection within the sector. These include the Spanish Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers, which stated that the measures are “arbitrary, unsuitable and disproportionate”. For its part, the National Commission for Markets and Competition added that the measures adopted “are devoid of any technical or scientific support” and that “they clearly constitute a breach of European Union law”.

How will the Climate Change Law affect the Balearic Islands?

This new regulation banning the circulation of new diesel cars from 2025 has been very well received by associations that look after the environment and ecology. The Balearic Islands do not want to be left behind when it comes to preservation and have therefore followed the line set by the European Union. A greater number of electric cars will make it possible to achieve better air quality. This will allow the islands’ natural parks, such as Cabrera, to be preserved in better condition and future tourists to continue visiting them.

In this way, and through this regulation, the aim is to position the Balearic Islands as the epicentre of ecological and sustainable tourism. And you… what do you think of these new measures?