Climate Change Law: could it put an end to the sale of combustion-engine cars in Spain?

The Climate Change Law could affect the continued sale of combustion-engine cars in Spain. The Congress of Deputies has approved the implementation of this law, and only ratification by the Senate remains. Once ratified, this new regulatory law could come into force next May. This new regulation, called the Climate Change and Energy Transition Bill, PLCCTE, will aim to meet international commitments in the fight against global warming.

It also aims to achieve climate neutrality in Spain by 2050. Until then, this Bill will establish a series of targets to be met by 2030; these milestones include, for example, a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 23% compared with 1990, although this target will be reviewed periodically.

The arrival of this law could put an end to the sale of combustion-engine cars

It should be noted that almost 30% of greenhouse gas emissions currently come from transport, so achieving climate neutrality requires reducing emissions from vehicles in circulation. This means the new Climate Change Law provides for a ban on selling combustion-engine cars from 2040 onwards, provided they are not intended for commercial use.

The text of the Bill states that “all Public Administrations will implement measures that enable, by 2050, a fleet of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with no direct CO2 emissions.” It further establishes that “new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles will progressively reduce their emissions, so that no later than 2040 they must be vehicles with emissions of 0 g of CO2/km.” However, cars registered as historic vehicles and those intended for commercial use are excluded from the ban.

Cities will also play a key role in the new Climate Change Bill, since municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants will have to implement measures to reduce mobility-related emissions, such as creating low-emission zones like those already operating in Madrid or Barcelona before 2023. In addition, “the shared electric mobility and the use of private electric means of transport must also be promoted.”

Increase in charging points for electric cars

This new regulation will also progressively increase the construction of new charging points for electric cars at service stations with the highest sales, which amounts to 10% of the network. Likewise, the installation of charging points in buildings will be encouraged through the Technical Building Code, and a National Access Point for real-time information on charging points will be set up.