2023-10-10 04:15:00
Asturias is the most “vulnerable” region in southwestern Europe in the process of decarbonizing the industry and transitioning towards a green energy model, according to the European Union’s annual report on the state of regions and cities released. yesterday by the European Committee of the Regions.
Depending on the profile of the Asturian industry, its specialization and the preponderance of manufacturing sectors that are highly intensive in carbon emissions, the Principality is among the 41 regions (out of a total of 242 European territories cataloged in the “Nuts 2” classification) most exposed. in this process undertaken by the European Union and other economic areas.
The opinion is based on a study that analyzes the shift from carbon-intensive industries to a net zero emissions industry in Europe. This process shows many differences in the impact on the different regions of the EU, and not only – the committee states – “because of the relative importance of these industries for regional economies”, but also because of “their capacity to adapt”. In the committee’s opinion, and also in accordance with another OECD study, “the shift towards net zero industry increases the vulnerability of regions with a greater socioeconomic burden and threatens to deepen economic inequalities.”
The Committee of the Regions is an EU advisory body that issues non-binding opinions and reports to the Commission and other European institutions such as the Parliament and the Council, and aims to convey what regions and cities think about issues that affect them. .
This advisory body maintains that the disruption in energy prices, together with the need to accelerate the ecological transition, will “almost certainly” lead to the migration of large industries within Europe. “Some places in Europe where energy is or will be cheaper due to exceptionally favorable circumstances for renewables (e.g. Extremadura in Spain or Sicily in Italy for solar, and the North Sea for offshore wind) may witness the emergence of new industrial centers for energy-intensive industries.
Most of the vulnerable regions identified are located in central and eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland. Other particularly vulnerable regions are found in Western Europe (Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) due to the chemical and oil refining industries. Some regions in northern Europe are sensitive due to the establishment of the paper and pulp industry, while southern Europe faces vulnerabilities in vehicle manufacturing (Romania), oil refining (Greece), minerals metals (Italy) and the production of base metals (cases of Umbria, in Italy, and Asturias).
The report states that “European industry is one of the most advanced and competitive parts of the single market” and that “to remain competitive, it has begun a journey to reach net zero emissions by 2050, joining the global race for net zero technologies.” and trying to ensure a constant but environmentally friendly flow of critical raw materials.”
However, The EU regional advisory body considers it “worrying that the EU proposals for the transition of European industry have been made without previously carrying out exhaustive territorial impact assessments”. Therefore, he states, “it is not surprising that the impacts of these changes at local and regional level and the interaction between different policies will only become evident in the coming years.” “These regions,” he concludes, “will become test subjects to see if and how the industrial transition will succeed.”
Even so, The report warns of an opportunity in decarbonization: “EU regions and cities could benefit greatly from a reindustrialization process,” he points out in reference to the changes that the substitution of energy sources and manufacturing processes in industry will entail.
Demography. The Committee of the Regions also warns of the demographic challenge in the case of Asturias. According to the report, “all EU regions will be affected by demographic impacts, such as population aging due to longer lifespans and low birth rates.”
In the case of Spain, Asturias is the second community (along with Extremadura, and only behind Castilla y León) with the greatest expected population decline in projections: it could lose between 75 and 149 inhabitants per 1,000 until 2050, which It would imply a reduction of between 75,000 and 149,000.
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