Mallorca climate row: Balearic CO2 rises 1% in 2024

In Palma, Mallorca, a Socialist MP says CO2 emissions across the Balearic Islands rose 1% in 2024, putting the regional government’s climate plans under fire. Carles Bona challenges energy minister Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro in the Balearic Parliament on Tuesday, 6 October. The minister says the goals of cutting emissions and expanding renewable energy have not changed.

More solar power, but emissions are up

Sáenz de San Pedro says the islands have added 187 megawatts of solar capacity for users’ own electricity needs during this parliamentary term. That brings the total to nearly 300 megawatts, he says, while around €160 million in grants has been paid out.

He points to panels on irrigation reservoirs, public roofs and car parks, including at Parc Bit. These sites use land already altered rather than rural land, he says. Bona says the 2024 emissions rise broke a run of falls and cites industry warnings that new renewable installations are stalling.

Where can the next panels go?

The minister says the islands have room for installations producing 1,600 megawatts, but would need more than 4,000 megawatts to meet their own energy needs. The government has begun updating its energy plan to decide where installations can go and expects to approve it in the first quarter of 2027.

Bona wants to know which sites remain available after the government’s moratorium on rural land. He also says climate planning has stalled while tourism and population growth drive up demand for energy.

Topics: Social affairs · Environment · Tourism · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com