Trapped in Carbon: The Overwhelming Dependence of Spanish Transport on Fossil Fuels

Road transport, with a hefty 62 percent of fuel consumption, stands as the epicenter of the environmental challenge for the sector in Spain, indicates a digital publication from the peninsula dedicated to road freight transport information.
This overwhelming dependence on oil derivatives as fuel not only makes it the main consumer of energy but also the undisputed leader in CO₂ emissions, far above other modes of transport such as rail, maritime, or air.
This reality, highlighted in the Corell Foundation report, underscores a modern paradox: despite technological advances in efficiency, the carbon footprint of the transport sector remains colossal due to its volume and near-total reliance on fossil fuels.
Faced with this scenario, Spanish and European regulations have intensified their efforts to drive a green transition. Regulations like the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law promote sustainable mobility, setting concrete goals such as the complete decarbonization of the economy by 2050.
These guidelines materialize in measures ranging from restrictions on polluting vehicles in low-emission zones (LEZ) in large cities to tax incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and investment in charging infrastructure. The legal framework thus seeks to structurally alter the current mobility model.
However, the challenge is monumental due to the specific weight of road transport in the Spanish economy, being the predominant mode for both freight and passenger transport. Electrifying this entire vehicle fleet, especially heavy-duty and long-distance transport, presents enormous technical and logistical difficulties. Therefore, the regulations are not limited to electrification but promote a mix of solutions. This includes promoting advanced biofuels and renewable gases (such as green hydrogen) for those segments where electric batteries are not yet viable, ensuring a just and technologically neutral transition.
The opportunity presented by this transformation is as vast as the challenge. Steering the transport model towards sustainability is not only imperative to meet international commitments against climate change but also represents a strategic advantage. It can drive industrial innovation, generate quality green employment in new sectors, improve air quality in cities—reducing associated health costs—and increase the country’s energy independence by reducing oil imports.
In conclusion, the decarbonization of road transport is the cornerstone of Spanish environmental policy in the sector. Achieving it requires coordinated and ambitious action that combines regulatory rigor with economic incentives, a firm commitment to R&D&i in clean energies, and constant dialogue with all involved stakeholders.
So, to decarbonize transport in Spain, it is not enough to use existing technology; it requires research, development, and innovation in a proposal that transforms a theoretical idea, like decarbonization, into practical, efficient, and commercially viable solutions that solve major challenges, such as sustainable transport.
The path is set by regulation, but its success will depend on the ability to implement these measures effectively and acceleratedly, transforming the greatest challenge into the greatest opportunity to modernize and make a fundamental pillar of our economy sustainable.