Territorial inequalities, ecological and material footprints of the energy transition: case study of the Cantabrian-Mediterranean Bioregion

Felipe-Andreu, Javier ; Valero, Antonio (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Valero, Alicia (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This study develops a methodology to assess the energy transition’s territorial, ecological and material impacts on regions. As a case study, the methodology is applied to the Cantabrian-Mediterranean Bioregion, a geographical area constituting eight autonomous communities located in the north of Spain. Two energy demand scenarios for 2030 and 2050 were assessed. The 2030 scenario is based on the Spanish government’s planning, and the 2050 scenario constitutes a net-zero emission economy based on electrification. Energy dependence between autonomous communities, energy and raw material needs, and availability are obtained for both scenarios. Results show a high imbalance between energy producer–consumer autonomous communities and an ecological and critical material deficit for the Bioregion. Two alternative scenarios are proposed, one based on self-sufficiency to ensure a balanced energy transition and another based on energy and material efficiency seeking that the ecological and critical material footprints do not surpass the planet’s carrying capacity. The indicators and methodology proposed can be easily replicated elsewhere and help develop more equitable and sustainable territorial planning strategies.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/land11111891

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Land 11, 11 (2022), 1891 [22 pp.]
ISSN: 2073-445X

Factor impacto JCR: 3.9 (2022)

Categ. JCR: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES rank: 48 / 128 = 0.375 (2022) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.7 - Environmental Science (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.647 - Ecology (Q2) - Nature and Landscape Conservation (Q2) - Global and Planetary Change (Q3)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EUR/AEI/ENSURE Project TED2021-131397B-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2020-116851RB-I00

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)