Mikel Jauregi: “Considering the global proliferation of climate change denial, 76% of citizens in the Basque Country have expressed concern about climate change and have called for accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources.”

• The Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, has released the findings of the latest study into public perception of climate and energy issues. The results show that 75% of the Basque population believe that the transition to a low-carbon economy will bring new economic opportunities for the Basque Country.
• The Climate and Energy Ecobarometer indicates that 58% of citizens are in favour of having a renewable energy park in their vicinity, while 72% believe that collective action against climate change necessitates a compromise in comfort.

Together with International Day against Climate Change, the Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, has evaluated the findings of the latest Climate and Energy Ecobarometer (a study of public perception on energy transition and climate change) conducted by the Basque Government's sociological research agency in collaboration with the Ente Vasco de la Energía-EVE (Basque Energy Board) and the Public Environmental Management Company-Ihobe. The general managers of both public companies, Mikel Amundarain and Alex Boto, also attended the presentation.

The study revealed that three out of four people in the Basque Country anticipate that the energy and climate transition will present new opportunities for the Basque economy. Jauregi stated that “as a country we cannot afford to have only 8% of energy generation via renewables. By way of illustration, the Basque Country has the full range of capabilities required to design, plan, build and operate a wind farm. It is now time to make a qualitative leap forward with new farms in our territory. 75% of the Basque population believes that the energy and climate transition will bring new opportunities for our economy. It is therefore time to take advantage of these opportunities. It is incumbent upon us, as a generation, to provide a solution to climate change. It is time for action and it’s our job.”

Jauregi also emphasised the importance of shared responsibility and commitment between citizens and institutions for renewables with new major projects. “In contrast to the prevalence of climate denial in other countries, 76% of the Basque Country are concerned about climate change. We can address the challenges ahead with a high level of public awareness. We must leverage this majority to make a significant qualitative leap forward by deploying new renewable energy projects. While notable strides have been made in energy efficiency and self-consumption in recent years, there is a clear need for larger wind and solar projects to be implemented. It is not sufficient to rely on solar panels on domestic roofs alone to meet the energy needs of our industry.”

The Climate and Energy Ecobarometer indicates that the Basque population considers the seriousness of climate change to be at 7.5 on a scale of 1 to 10. The most prevalent sentiments among Basques regarding climate change are feelings of powerlessness (49% cite it as one of the top two feelings), indignation (39%), and fear (31%). In the Basque Country, the most probable consequences are more frequent heat waves (86% consider this to be very or likely), a rise in sea levels (82%) and an increase in the flooding frequency (78%).

Jauregi highlighted the initial impacts of climate change in the Basque Country, noting a “growing awareness of extreme weather events, including heat waves in summer and continuous heavy rainfall leading to flooding in winter. Considering these developments, the energy transition is of paramount importance. It is not only our economy that is affected, but also our food, our health, our biodiversity and our natural environment. Ultimately, it is our very survival that is at stake.”

Top Rated Energy Sources

In response to the question on which forms of energy should be promoted in the Basque Country, Basque residents most frequently cited solar energy (8.1 on a scale of 0 to 10), marine energy (7.9), wind energy (7.7), and geothermal energy (7.5), followed by biomass (6.5), hydrogen (6.4), and natural gas (5.5). They also identified oil derivatives and nuclear energy as the two types that should be promoted the least (3.9 and 2.6 respectively).

It is notable that a significant proportion of the population (69%) believes that the impact of renewable energy installations should be carefully evaluated, even if this results in a slower pace of action on climate change.

Mikel Jauregi emphasised “the necessity for society to be made aware of the urgent need to implement new renewable generation projects.” 58% of residents are in favour of having a renewable energy park in their vicinity, while 72% believe that collective action against climate change necessitates a compromise in comfort. “We view these figures as an indication of public support for our initiative, but we recognise the need to intensify our efforts to educate and socialise the public further to increase this level of support and ensure that the public are fully aware of the social, economic and environmental benefits that renewables will bring.”

On the other hand, most respondents expressed support for the proposed measures to combat climate change. 58% of respondents indicated strong agreement with the proposal to require homeowners' associations to have facilities to generate the energy they consume, while 56% supported the idea of prohibiting access of polluting vehicles to cities and imposing higher taxes on vehicles that pollute more. 55% of those surveyed support building more green areas and eliminating parking spaces.

Jauregi also expressed gratitude for the contributions of the Basque industry. “The industrial sector in the Basque Country has been working for decades to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This is being achieved through the Basque Net Zero Industrial Super Cluster initiative, which has made a major commitment to decarbonisation and energy self-sufficiency through renewables. The energy transition is a shared challenge that concerns us all. It is imperative that the rest of the sectors and society in general advance along this path, each from their own sphere, to avoid being left behind.”

“It is imperative that we do not lag the rest of the world in energy independence. The consequences of this dependence have recently become apparent through the escalation in gas prices, which has had a detrimental impact on our economy, the competitiveness of our companies and the disposable income of our families. It is time to make a firm commitment to renewables as a means of combating climate change, while also considering the Basque Country’s future energy sovereignty.”

ASTEKLIMA: Basque Country Climate and Energy Week

Jauregi emphasised “the importance of leveraging the new tools provided by the Energy Transition and Climate Change Act, which was approved by a significant parliamentary majority last February (82% of the Basque Parliament). This will help to enhance public awareness.” The Basque Country Climate and Energy Week, ASTEKLIMA, will take place from 18 to 27 October. The Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, through EVE and Ihobe, is promoting the event to raise awareness of the challenges associated with energy and climate transition.

Jauregi added: “The success or failure of the fight against climate change will depend on our ability to promote ambitious transformational projects and to rally support. This is a challenge that requires a multi-level approach to ensure a comprehensive solution. It is essential to raise awareness of the scale of this significant challenge and to engage everyone as a key protagonist. Every gesture and action, regardless of size, contributes to the overall effort.”

About the study

The Basque Government has recently completed its third public perception study on energy transition and climate change. This follows similar studies carried out in 2017 and 2021. The fieldwork was conducted between 9 and 20 September 2024 via phone interviews with a sample size representative of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country’s population. The interview was conducted using a structured and closed-question questionnaire.

The sample, comprising individuals aged 18 and over, has a total of 1,845 interviews across the entire region. The sample included 436 interviews in Araba, 768 in Bizkaia and 641 in Gipuzkoa.