Spanish minister: Climate emergency forces us to rethink our transport model

Summary

Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez Jiménez addresses a press conference after the weekly Cabinet's meeting at La Moncloa Palace complex in Madrid, Spain. [EPA-EFE/FERNANDO ALVARADO]

Madrid will play host to the Global Mobility Call Congress this week, an event which Spanish leaders say will help to position the country as a sustainable mobility hub.

Ahead of the event, Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez Jiménez spoke to EURACTIV about the state of mobility in Spain, from grappling with the fallout caused by soaring fuel prices, to Spanish efforts to decarbonise the way citizens move, to her vision of the future of transport.

Raquel Sánchez Jiménez is the Minister for Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda of Spain. She responded in writing to questions from EURACTIV.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:

• A new law, agreed as part of efforts to end the truck driver strike which paralysed the country, will guarantee adequate working conditions and social protection for heavy-goods vehicle drivers
• Spain is implementing a 20 cent subsidy on fuel prices and decoupling the price of gas from electricity to help reduce the cost of living
• Around 30% of Spain’s EU COVID recovery fund will go towards boosting rail connections, improving urban mobility, and refurbishing housing
• No plans to follow France and ban short-haul domestic flights: Market conditions and consumer choice will lead people to choose the most sustainable transport option
• The Global Mobility Call congress in Madrid will be the first “world-class sustainable mobility event”

The protests against high fuel prices by Spanish truck drivers made international headlines. Can you outline the current situation and the Spanish government’s response?

On 1st March, the Government of Spain approved the Royal Decree-Law on Measures to Improve the Sustainability of the Transport of Goods by Road and the Operation of the Logistics Chain. It materialises the agreement reached on December 17 between the Spanish Ministry of Transport (MITMA) and the National Committee for Road Transport, which includes a total of 20 measures that reflect the Ministry’s commitment to the sector.

The most structural part of the set of measures included in the Royal Decree-law was already outlined in the “Plan Impulsa” – Plan to Promote the Sustainability of the Transport of Goods by Road – a strategic framework for the sector for the coming years.

The essential objective of the Royal Decree-law is to rebalance the asymmetries currently existing between the actors in the road freight transport sector, improve their position and competitiveness and guarantee adequate working conditions and social protection for drivers.

Likewise, the Royal Decree-law carries out the transposition of the European Directive on posted workers included in the EU Mobility Package, which is key in the fight against unfair competition from foreign companies and to combat fraud in the posting of workers between States of the European Union

The approved measures include:

• The general prohibition of the driver loading and unloading the cargo in vehicles over 7.5 tons, with some exceptions.
• The reduction of the waiting time from which the carrier will be entitled to compensation when loading or unloading, from the current two hours to one hour, also including a provision related to the calculation of compensation to the carrier for damages caused by the paralysis of the vehicle.
• The obligatory revision of the price of transport in the face of the variation in the price of fuel from the moment of contracting until the effective performance of the transport, linked to the indices that are published on the MITMA website.
• The incorporation of the sanctioning regime linked to compliance with the mobility package approved by the European Community Regulations in terms of driving and rest times and “vehicle return home” when doing international transport.
• Reinforcement of MITMA’s inspection means with means of the Public Administrations to fight against unfair competition in the sector.

Another series of measures linked to improving the efficiency of the sector and its environmental sustainability are also included, specifically, the need to modify, within a period of 9 months from the approval of the Royal Decree-law, of certain aspects of the regulations of masses and dimensions, in order to:

• Simplify bureaucratic requirements for the use of “megatrailers” and “duotrailers”.
• Extend the maximum height allowed to 4.5 metres for certain highly valued types of transport with special needs.
• Increase the areas in which the 44 Tn can be used, also with a very specific focus.

Other measures included in the Royal Decree-Law that contribute to improving the sustainability of the sector are:

• The creation of a Code of Good Commercial Practices in the contracting of land transport of goods, which fosters fair, balanced and loyal relations between the companies that intervene in the contracting of freight transport.
• The creation of a standard for the certification of loading and unloading areas in relation to the services and conditions offered to professional carriers.

What can and should be done by governments in Europe about rising fuel prices? Is it possible to meet our geopolitical and environmental aims while ensuring that high fossil fuel prices don’t hit those who can’t afford it?

Our priority is to protect European energy consumers, both citizens and our industries. The rising of fuel prices should not become an extra burden for the most vulnerable ones. And to ensure this protection, Spain has already taken different measures.

To deal with the short term, Spain and Portugal count now with the so called “Iberian Exception”. Thanks to this mechanism, both countries can decouple the price of gas from that of electricity for the 12 next months and they can cap the price of gas to an average of €50 per megawatt-hour.

In addition, Spain approved the “National Response Plan” to cope with the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Under this plan, amongst other measures, in the transport sector we adopted a 20 cents allowance for each liter of fuel, in order to reduce the impact of energy prices on citizens.

Regarding long term measures, Spain has a very diversified energy supply, which allows our country to reduce energy dependency. Spain obtains its energy from a big scope of different sources – we are also leaders in renewable energies, so we do not depend on Russian gas as much as other countries do.

In the current energy crisis, we have also ensured our supply and reinforced relations with supplier countries such as Algeria, the United States, or Qatar. Moreover, we fully support the European Commission’s REPower EU Plan.

Specifically in transport, Spain is fully committed to a more sustainable system. To do so, we promote the decarbonisation and the reduction of emissions of the transport sector, for instance, showing a big commitment with the measures of the Fit for 55 package; we want to boost the development of biofuels from renewable sources; and we continue betting on technological innovation, as we do with our National Plans (PERTES) dedicated to green hydrogen and to electric vehicles.

You have said that sustainable mobility is a key area for Spain, with €13 billion of the EU COVID recovery fund going towards it. Can you briefly summarise your vision for this fund in the area of transport?

The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda is the Ministry with the largest budget of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. MITMA will manage a total of €16.7 billion from the PRTR, which is 30% of all these funds. More than half of this amount is managed directly by MITMA (51%), while 36% is transferred to the regional Autonomous Communities and 13% to local entities.

The recovery plan funds of this ministry are destined, fundamentally, to two driving policies: to sustainable, safe and connected mobility; and to the urban agenda and housing:

The first has investments aimed at the creation of low-emission zones and the transformation of urban and metropolitan transport; actions to improve the quality and reliability of the railways service; and the modernisation of the national transport network, specifically, of the European corridors.

In addition to this, investments will be made for the modernization of the Trans-European Transport Network; the Support Program for Sustainable and Digital Transport; and intermodality and logistics actions.

As for the second, MITMA’s investments in the urban and housing agenda, these will focus on four pillars: the energy rehabilitation of buildings for economic recovery; the recovery of public buildings of Autonomous Communities and Local Entities; the construction of housing for social rent; and the implementation of the Spanish Urban Agenda.

All this economic and administrative effort seeks, ultimately, to completely modernise the mobility sector and the urban structure so that it adapts to the new sustainability standards.

It is a great opportunity, a great challenge, but Spain is doing very well and we hope that it will continue to do so until the end of the period.

Transport is one of the few sectors where carbon emissions have increased in the past 30 years. What can and should countries do to reverse this trend? Do we need to travel less to meet green objectives?

Transport and mobility are essential for citizens and companies, as it is linked to their daily necessities, whether for compulsory reasons such as going to work or to an educational center, or for leisure. But, on the other hand, it also generates a series of negative externalities.

One of the most important external costs caused by mobility is air pollution. Despite the fact that since the beginning of the millennium there has been a considerable decrease in polluting emissions produced by transport, mainly due to the technological improvement of engines and fuels, and more recently during the most difficult time of the pandemic due to the reduction in mobility, the main cities continue to have air quality problems.

In them, there is a higher concentration of pollutants in the air, which negatively affects the health of inhabitants. In addition, the mobility that takes place in cities also emits greenhouse gases (GHG), which represent 9% of total national GHG emissions and contribute to global warming and climate change, and cause other externalities such as traffic accidents, congestion and noise.

The pandemic, and the mobility restrictions established in its most complicated periods, has made, if possible, it even more clear that mobility constitutes a citizen’s right that must be guaranteed.

Likewise, during this stage, the great relevance of collective public transport has been made visible as an element available to citizens even in the most adverse circumstances, since it has provided service at all times, even with the logical reduction in supply, and despite the decrease in the number of travelers.

This has been possible thanks to the great effort made by all the agents that participate directly or indirectly in the provision of these services – transport operators, transport service managers, transport infrastructure managers and ancillary services, etc., and the involvement of its workers.

In fact, the transport and mobility sector is in a stage of great change, with three main vectors of transformation:

• The need to advance in the decarbonisation of the economy and the fight against the climate emergency, making it essential to drastically reduce polluting emissions from the transport sector in the coming decades in order to achieve the 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation goals.
• The massive incorporation of technology and digitisation in mobility, which represents an opportunity to improve the efficiency of the transport system, and which is producing the appearance of new mobility forms and services, as well as business models.
• The greater concentration of population in large cities and peri-urban areas, which entails significant management challenges both in these large cities, as well as in rural areas and medium-sized cities, which face depopulation and require specific mobility solutions, as well as the response to other demographic challenges such as the aging of the population.

Many inputs force us to rethink the priorities of the transportation model. And here, once again, the role of public transport shines brightly, even more so if it is combined with the potential of new technologies in terms of providing information in real time, ease of use, reservation and payment, access to complementary services, etc.

There are a lot of efforts being done right now from all levels of administration, starting with the institutions of the European Union, but also national governments, regional administration and local authorities. All are conducting ambitious policies. That is because the citizens are demanding it, the consciousness is rising due to the everyday more evident effects of the Climate Emergency.

Through the different instruments and measures included in our Strategy for Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility 2030, measures are designed to improve the transportation system to be sustainable from a triple perspective: economic, social and environmental.

The Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda also considers all technology improvements as an important tool to reach the objectives but it is also necessary to shift to collective public transport and impulse active mobility in cities, such as walking and cycling.

Furthermore, a reduction in the amount we and our goods move is also an objective for us all. Under the strategy Avoid-Shift-Improve, we definitely intend to work hard and in parallel with the three principles.

One of the big challenges facing countries is rolling out sufficient charging infrastructure for the shift to electric vehicles. Is Spain ready for the EV revolution?

The Ministry of Transport goes hand in hand in this matter with the Spanish Ministry for the Ecologic Transition and with the Ministry of Industry. We all are putting lots of effort in managing the European Recovery Funds in this regard.

Currently, significant growth is being observed in the number of requests for the installation of recharging points in the vicinity of the State Highway Network. Therefore, it is important to strengthen coordination between the different actors involved.

This greater coordination is taking place between the Ministries of Transport, the Ecological Transition and Industry in different areas such as the negotiation of the European regulation on alternative fuels or in the application of the Climate Change Law.

The main handicap detected is the need to have a denser electricity distribution network, which allows the supply of recharging points in interurban sections, making investments in them viable.

Electric mobility undoubtedly plays an important role in reducing emissions in this sector, as electric motors generate lower emissions of CO2 and other polluting particles, and also allow the incorporation of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil energy sources.

The automotive sector is a very competitive sector, which is taking great steps to reduce the negative externalities associated with this mode of transport. In this sense, it is worth highlighting the different initiatives promoted by this government, through, for example, the Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) of the electric vehicle, or other programs to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of the EVs sector.

Within the framework of the Spanish Recovery Plan, MITMA is collaborating with all regional authorities to decarbonise mobility in all modes and segments.

With a view to promoting the business fabric of logistics and transport, MITMA is also convening various aid programs that focus on strengthening the capacities of companies in the sector and encouraging the provision of more efficient and sustainable services.

Among the types of aid that will be granted to both Autonomous Communities and private companies, there will be the possibility of financing fleet changes for the incorporation of clean technologies and adaptation of buildings to include clean energy recharging points.

France has taken the measure to essentially ban short-haul flights where a train connection exists. Do you believe that people in Spain should be encouraged to take the train rather than fly for short journeys? If so, how can rail travel be made more attractive?

We believe that the market conditions and the people will finally choose the most sustainable option without imposing a ban from the side of the administration. At least, this is the position we have maintained in the last years with the support of airlines and railway operators, and this modal change is being evidenced as a natural result of the market demand.

You only have to take a look to the traffic numbers in corridors like, for example, Madrid-Barcelona or Madrid-Valencia, where the train quote in comparison with the flight traffic is steadily growing. But it does not mean that we are not doing anything to promote the shift from short-haul flights to middle distance and high speed railway services.

One good example is the effort in planning and designing a future high speed terminal in the Airport of Madrid Barajas, which will make it possible to reach the first international airport of Spain in high speed services from almost all capital cities of the peninsula in 2030.

That will allow the creation of an intermodal ecosystem between airlines and railway operators that could offer a great trip package to customers and the reduction of domestic flights. For this scenario we count on the support of IAG and railways operators like Renfe.

Also, please do not face the dilemma of “train or plane”, but “flight and plane, where necessary”. Multimodality is an essential key for the development of sustainable mobility, offering attractive solutions to everyone, and actual alternatives to the private use of motorised vehicles.

The aviation industry is also working hard on reducing emissions. The main lines of work are: sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electric propulsion with batteries or hydrogen cells, the emissions trading system (EU ETS), as well as efficiency measures in air operations and management.

If we look 10 years into the future, how will getting around Spanish cities be different to today do you think? What are the key changes you would like to see?

Today, global mobility, both of people and goods, is transforming in a disruptive way and this is a huge challenge, both for all the administrations involved and for companies.

We face important challenges: social, environmental, digital and even structural. Public administrations cannot face this new paradigm that surrounds us alone.

These challenges will imply the need to carry out a transformation of the transport and mobility system, to evolve it, both nationally and internationally, in all urban and metropolitan territories and environments.

For this in the Ministry we have:

• A roadmap, our vision: the Strategy for Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility 2030, approved by the Council of Ministers in December 2021.
• A regulatory instrument, the future Law on Sustainable Mobility, which will give us the necessary regulatory tools for the change of direction promoted by the Mobility Strategy. After the public participation phase that ended in April 2022, we are now evaluating all the contributions received with the aim that Parliament can approve this law during the coming year.
• And a program of aid, both to Autonomous Communities and City Councils and to private companies, as well as MITMA’s own investments, which within the framework of Components 1 and 6 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the EU Next Generation Funds, total more than 13,000 million euros focused on sustainable mobility, and that will allow us to accelerate the necessary investments for the green and digital transformation that the sector needs.

All this with the vision that mobility is a citizen’s right, an element of social cohesion and a key lever for economic development.

The law is based on four pillars:

• Mobility as a social right
• Clean and healthy mobility
• A digital and innovative transport system
• Invest better in the service of citizens

The law will incorporate very innovative aspects, such as the creation of a National System of Sustainable Mobility, as an instrument of cooperation and coordination in terms of mobility between administrations and with society and the private sector, and the creation of an Integrated Mobility Data Space or a mobility sandbox, to promote innovation in new business models that add value to society.

And we have to highlight that advancing towards sustainable mobility is a joint objective, which we must do between all administrations, the private sector and civil society.

And in this context, companies, both those that work within the field of mobility and those that do not, but are committed to improving the daily mobility of their workers, have a fundamental role.

It is also essential to have discussion forums for the exchange of knowledge, for awareness, for dynamisation, for stimulating collective thinking. That is why the Global Mobility Call (GMC) 2022 is so important for us.

The GMC is an international holistic congress dedicated to sustainable mobility to be held in Madrid from 14 – 16 June. GMC will be the first world-class sustainable mobility event, bringing together international leaders from all sectors working towards a safer, fairer, more sustainable and connected mobility.

GMC seeks to offer business, institutional and international leaders a global scenario where to exchange strategies and foster innovation to define the new sustainable mobility ecosystem.

Source: EURACTIV