Policies, measures and actions on climate change and
environmental protection in the context of COVID-19 recovery.

Andorra

Last update 29 Oct. 2021

1.Climate mitigation measures

Transition to renewable energy

Redesign

The promotion of renewable energies and high energy efficiency technologies, distributed production and self-consumption of both electricity and heat, which will achieve 33% of national electricity production by 2030 and 50% by 2050, ensuring at the same time 80% of renewable energies, at least.

Reference https://www.mediambient.ad/transicio-energetica/generacio-d-energia-electrica

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Building sector

Redesign

The implementation of energy saving and efficiency measures in the building must be guaranteed at the time of the design of the buildings and during their use. To this effect, sufficient regulations must be implemented to ensure that newly-built homes have nearly zero-energy consumption and incorporate a minimum percentage of in-situ energy production based on renewable sources, adapting the urban planning regulations if necessary.

Reference https://www.mediambient.ad/transicio-energetica/eficiencia-energetica-en-l-edificacio

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Sustainable transportation

Recovery Redesign

Sustainable mobility, prioritizing non-motorized mobility and laying the groundwork for a transition to a low-carbon transport model. Due to its incentive policies, Andorra currently has a market share of electric vehicles between 4-5% and one of the largest networks of electric chargers in the world.

Reference https://www.mediambient.ad/transicio-energetica/mobilitat-sostenible

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Others

Redesign

Exemplary role of the public administration, both in terms of the renovation of the real estate stock and the replacement of vehicles (energy audits of all its buildings before 2022, and the energy production equipment, which at the end of their useful life, are replaced by energy-efficient equipment, prioritizing those that run on energy from renewable sources, etc.).

Reference https://www.mediambient.ad/relat_accio_climatica/Relat_Accio_climatica_Andorra_ENG.pdf

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Others

Redesign

Circular economy. Given that the circular economy can be an important part of the solution to current environmental problems and generate both economic and environmental benefits, the Andorran Circular Economy draft bill is configured as a pioneering law and stands out, among others, for banning single-use plastics and reducing food waste. The law includes synergies between circularity and climate change through the analysis of its benefits from the GHG emissions reduction perspective, adapting to this phenomenon and combating the loss of biodiversity.

Reference http://www.consellgeneral.ad/ca/activitat-parlamentaria/iniciatives-legislatives/projectes-de-llei/projecte-de-llei-d2019economia-circular-lec

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Land sector

Redesign

Principle of non-decline in sink capacity: Law 7/2019 integrates the principle of non-reduction and strengthening of the absorption capacity of carbon sinks as part of the fight against climate change and the sustainable use of biomass, especially in forested areas.

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2.Climate adaptation measures

Adaptation planning

Redesign

In Andorra, in 2014, the Process of Adaptation to Climate Change (PAACC) was carried out with the aim of identifying the possible impacts of climate change on the socio-economic and environmental sectors, assessing the vulnerabilities of each, as well as identifying adaptation measures to address them, in order to reduce their vulnerability.
In parallel to this process, our country works in a network within the framework of the Pyrenees Working Community (CTP) in order to study the impacts of climate change in this particular bioregion, as well as establishing adaptation strategies that allow an effective increase in the resilience of our territory.

Reference https://www.opcc-ctp.org/en

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Adaptation planning

Redesign

In order to plan actions, the Law 21/2018, on the promotion of the energy transition and climate change prioritizes studies in the sectors of health, agriculture, energy and tourism. To carry out these studies, the government has the country’s research and investigation centers and cross-border territorial cooperation initiatives that aim at climate change. Mountain ecosystems like ours have been identified as some of the most vulnerable to these changes, both in terms of the impacts on the populations that live there, as well as the ecosystem services they provide.

Reference https://www.mediambient.ad/normativa/la-litecc

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3.Cross-cutting measures

Citizens’ lives (behaviour change)/ employment

Redesign

Information on the energy performance of buildings, vehicles and appliances. However, general speaking and without limitation, users should be able to obtain information on the following data:
-The contribution of each energy source to the electricity they consume.
-The energy consumption of the properties they live in and public buildings.
-The energy efficiency ratings of the properties they live in.
-Consumption and CO2 emissions and the rate of ownership of new and second-hand vehicles for sale.
-The energy efficiency of new household appliances that are marketed.
Energy can be regarded as an essential resource, particularly in mountainous areas and in winter. It will therefore be necessary to ensure the quality and reliability of the energy supply by means of a regulation that determines the criteria, to identify users who are liable to suffer from energy insecurity and to provide information to companies and entities within the energy sector on how to act in the above cases.

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Sustainable finance (public/private)/market mechanisms/carbon pricing

Redesign

The Government promotes the Green Fund to encourage plans and actions for the development of climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives. This Fund, as stipulated by the Law 21/2018, on the promotion of the energy transition and climate change, is incorporated into the draft general budget law and is sustained by any earmarked taxes that are determined for this purpose, as well as the complementary budgetary allocations provided for in the State’s general budget laws, the donations and contributions it receives and any other potential income. At the same time, the acknowledgement of the climate crisis and the declaration of the state of climate and ecological emergency promoted by the General Council (2020) establishes that the proceeds from the tax on vehicle ownership also sustains said Fund.

Reference https://www.govern.ad/taxaverda

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Sustainable finance (public/private)/market mechanisms/carbon pricing

Redesign

The creation of a voluntary and regulated emission offset system entails the adoption of innovative initiatives in the field of GHG emission mitigation. The implementation of this system is key to supporting organisations, entities and companies within the framework of social, corporate and entrepreneurial responsibility, as it facilitates the offsetting of their carbon footprint and the approval of policies to combat climate change in its operation. Similarly, the articulation of a national GHG emission offset system can serve to encourage and coordinate disperse activities related to the environment to be conducted by institutions and companies. For this system to be reliable it is essential to create the foundations to ensure the full transparency and integrity of the carbon credits that enter the system. Therefore, in parallel with the creation of the emission offset system, it will be necessary to determine a carbon standard that demonstrates the environmental integrity of the carbon credits generated by the different projects and the creation of a credit registry system that clarifies the ownership of the credits and their traceability.

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Sustainable finance (public/private)/market mechanisms/carbon pricing

Redesign

Andorra has create a price for carbon as an additional element of the general branch of the excise tax on hydrocarbons whose use generates or is likely to generate greenhouse gas emissions. Gradually integrating the CO2 element would internalise the social and environmental costs of the negative effects of fossil fuel use and improve the competitiveness of other less polluting energy sources. Ultimately, the chief goals of a tax such as this one are to send out a price signal to the economic agents and improve the competitiveness of other less polluting counterparties.

Reference https://www.govern.ad/taxaverda

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4.Other environmental measures

Waste management and Circular economy / sustainable production and consumption

Redesign

Circular economy. Given that the circular economy can be an important part of the solution to current environmental problems and generate both economic and environmental benefits, the Andorran Circular Economy draft bill is configured as a pioneering law and stands out, among others, for banning single-use plastics and reducing food waste. The law includes synergies between circularity and climate change through the analysis of its benefits from the GHG emissions reduction perspective, adapting to this phenomenon and combating the loss of biodiversity.

Reference http://www.consellgeneral.ad/ca/activitat-parlamentaria/iniciatives-legislatives/projectes-de-llei/projecte-de-llei-d2019economia-circular-lec

Contact Environment Department
Measures related to ecosystem services/biodiversity/land use and agriculture

Principle of conservation of emissions from the agro-livestock sector: traditional mountain agriculture and livestock is not only able to adapt to climate change but does also help to mitigate it due to its relationship with the environment, and for the ecosystem services provided by grazing, in the form of maintenance of the country’s main greenhouse gas sinks, the forests.

Contact Energy and Climate Change Agency

5.International Cooperation

Others

Redesign

The Government of Andorra has been a member of the Pyrenees Climate Change Observatory (OPCC) of the Pyrenees Working Community (CTP) since 2010 together with the neighboring French and Spanish regions and communities. The OPCC is the reference platform for the transfer of knowledge and the dissemination of information on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation initiatives in the Pyrenees.

Reference https://www.opcc-ctp.org/

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Others

Redesign

In October 2016, Andorra joined the Ibero-American Network of Climate Change Agencies (RIOCC), a space for the technical exchange of experiences that offers the opportunity to identify synergies, strengths and priorities, in terms of regional cooperation and support between countries.

Reference http://www.lariocc.es/es/

Contact Energy and Climate Change Agency