The Basque Country consolidates its environmental protection with significant improvements in air quality and emissions reduction according to its Environmental Outlook 2024 Report

• The air quality in the Basque Country has improved, with nearly 91% of the days in 2023 rated as 'good' or 'very good' quality
  
  
• In 2023, the Basque Country emitted 17 million tonnes of CO2, which was a 33% drop in emissions on the 2005 baseline
  
  
• Since the year 2000, 1,465 hectares of soil have been recovered from 156 contaminated sites
  
  
• Domestic material consumption has fallen, down by 8 tonnes per inhabitant since 2005
  
  
• The Basque Environmental Outlook 2024 Report analyses the evolution of nine environmental thematic areas
  
  

The Basque Government's Deputy Minister for the Environment, Josu Bilbao, today presented the ‘Basque Environmental Outlook 2024’ report, drawn up by the public company Ihobe, which reveals significant advances in air quality and the reduction of CO2 emissions, although challenges persist in water management and waste management. ‘This report is a necessary exercise: we must measure in order to be able to analyse and make decisions. We also believe that it is an exercise in transparency for society on a subject that arouses great interest among citizens, such as the environment,’ the deputy minister stressed.

The Basque Environmental Outlook 2024 Report analyses the evolution of nine environmental thematic areas: climate change, water quality, air quality, soil health, biodiversity, circular economy, waste, economy and environment, and citizens. The report studies the evolution of the environmental indicators with the European reference framework for each theme to assess the progression and progress of each environmental aspect, and the distance to the target as applicable. Thus, the report offers a snapshot of the current status of the environment in the Basque Country.

As regards climate change, the report points out that, in 2023, the Basque Country emitted 17 million tonnes of CO2, which was a 33% drop in emissions on the 2005 baseline. This progress places the Basque Country well on the way to the 2030 target set by the Law on Energy Transition and Climate Change, which seeks to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

In relation to water, the status of the 36 bodies of groundwater and 167 surface water bodies (128 rivers, 21 lakes and reservoirs, 14 estuaries and 4 coastal waters) has remained stable in the Basque Country since 2018. In 2023, approximately 50% of surface water bodies and 90% of groundwater bodies are in good condition. The evolution is favourable but slow, especially in the case of rivers and estuaries.

The air quality has improved, with nearly 91% of the days in 2023 rated 'good' or 'very good' quality. The annual average concentration of particulate matter (PM10) dropped by 26% between 2012 and 2023, meaning it was under the target set by the European Directive in this area.

As regards soil health, since the year 2000, 1,465 hectares of soil have been recovered from 1,584 contaminated sites. The rate of the transformation into artificial land has stabilised at around 6.8% since 2016, even though the recovery of priority industrial land continues to be a challenge.

With respect to biodiversity, the Basque Country has 55 areas protected by Natura 2000 Network; their total surface area is 1,659 km², which is equivalent to 23% of the total area of the region. Birds associated with farmland have shown a population decline of 37% with respect to 1998 data. While the birds in forestry and urban areas have increased their populations by 103% and 19% respectively.

Less domestic material consumption

The Basque Environmental Outlook 2024 Report also highlights that urban waste generated has fallen by 4% since 2003 – down to 1,106,000 tonnes in 2022, 80% of which was household. Furthermore, the Basque Country has reduced waste ending up in landfill by 54% since 2018, putting it on track to comply with the Basque Country Waste Prevention and Management Plan 2030, which sets the main objective of reducing waste ending up in landfill to less than 15%. On the other hand, a clear drop in domestic consumption of materials has been seen, with a decrease of 8 tonnes per inhabitant since 2005, despite the growth of the Basque economy.

As regards the relationship between the economy and the environment, the Basque Country shows a significant coupling between the GDP and the main environmental indicators, such as GHG emissions. However, green taxation in the Basque Country only represents 1.5% of the GDP, under the EU average of 2%.

As regards the citizens' relationships with the environment, the report stresses that practically all Basque citizens consider the environment as an important factor for quality of life. Furthermore, 76% of the population are concerned about climate change and supports the measures to overcome it.

The Basque Environmental Outlook 2024 Report stresses the progress made in the Basque Country in terms of air quality and reducing emissions, but also pinpoints areas where ongoing attention is required, such as water management, waste management, the restoration of contaminated soils and green taxation. It also points out that citizen engagement and the implementation of effective policies will be key for the Basque Country to continue advancing in the goal to be a benchmark European region in sustainability.