Private vehicle and greenhouse gas emissions in Spain: A war without winner

Abstract

The region of Madrid, which includes the capital and surrounding towns, has increased the number of private vehicles up to almost 4 million cars in 2016, plus about a million trucks, motorcycles and vans. Current situation in Barcelona is similar, with up to 2.5 million cars. Both countries (two of the most urbanized cities in Spain) have begun thinking about taking drastic steps to reduce car exhaust pollution. In fact, in 2016 some actions (insufficient and unpopular) have already been carried out. It can be said that a war against pollution has begun. Will there be winners? And how have they come to this limit situation? This work tries to show the evolution of greenhouse gas emissions in these representative countries, including factors as urbanism and economic crisis.