The electoral programs are painted green…but then they are not fulfilled

Catalonia has fallen into “green electoralism”, the realization that the proposals included in the electoral programs are not only not fulfilled but that real political action sometimes contradicts those promises, as has already been seen in Parliament votes. This is one of the conclusions of a study prepared by the Xarxa per a la Conservació de la Natura (XCN) and the Spanish Society of Ornithology (SEO/Birdlife) in which they comparatively analyze the electoral programs with the aim of evaluating to what extent the political formations address ecological and climate challenges.

It is known that parties sometimes ignore electoral promises. But this report goes further with two new insights: the political speeches issued during the electoral campaign do not always agree with what is stated in the electoral programs.

And secondly, some of the proposals written in these programs contradict the parliamentary votes carried out in this legislature, “so a certain green electoralism can be felt in some of the formations,” it is indicated.

“We have analyzed almost a thousand proposals included in the electoral programs and we detected serious contradictions between what the parties say and what they do, to the point that they have voted in Parliament against those proposals that they already formulated in the previous electoral campaign. ”says Sandra Carrera, director of the XCN.

Carreras considers it a contradiction that the parties turn their backs on the promised extension of the protected areas in the Llobregat delta (Junts), that they do not now mention the agreed implementation of the Nature Agency (the PSC), or that there is an oversight of the tax on large ships (when agreed by law).

The Catalan parties largely assume in their programs the priority need to create the Nature Agency (approved by the Parliament in 2020 and not yet established!), or the configuration of a Department of Medi Ambient (or Ecological Transition) independent and with the rank of vice president.

However, “the popular do not mention any proposals in relation to the environment and Ciudadanos only presents 17, although some of them are to the detriment of Nature,” the document says.

Vox, for its part, incorporates “harmful” measures that seek to nullify climate change mitigation measures and biodiversity loss.

For its part, ERC is the party that registers the greatest increase in proposals, but this “contrasts with the fact of not having fulfilled any of the priority proposals in the current legislature.”

Both XCN and SEO/BirdLife call for “coherence and political commitment” to ensure that what is promised is fulfilled.

“We regret that the requests made for the 2021 elections are the same as those raised now, which unfortunately means that no priority action has been carried out in three years,” explains Sandra Carrera.

In total, Catalan political parties with parliamentary representation present 973 proposals that affect the environment. Comuns Sumar is the group that presents the most actions (482 proposals), followed by the CUP (156) and ERC (118).

The report analyzes the parties’ proposals on three priority issues: the promotion of a Biodiversity Law (postponed for more than 15 years), the constitution of the Nature Agency and the provision of resources for the Natural Heritage Fund. Another point under scrutiny is the configuration of the Department for the Ecological Transition with the rank of vice president. These are the four most necessary measures to confront the climate emergency and the loss of biodiversity, they point out.

Regarding the Department for the Ecological Transition, “which would ensure correct governance in the matters discussed”, only Comuns Sumar and CUP are in favor of its creation. Together they suggest providing the Generalitat with an institutional structure that gives relevance to powers regarding the environment and sustainability, while PSC, ERC, PPC and Cs do not make any reference and VOX is against it.

In relation to the Agència de la Natura, CUP, ERC and Comuns Sumar propose to establish it. Together is also in favor, despite abstaining on February 8 from a parliamentary motion for its immediate creation. PSC does not make reference to this Nature Agency at any time, while it recommends the creation of an Environment Agency of Catalonia to bring together all decision-making. Neither VOX nor Ciudadanos mention anything about it.

In relation to the Natural Heritage Fund (with respect to which the of allusion.

The report also analyzes other environmental measures that allow the parties’ position on the ecosystemic transition to be assessed.

Regarding the management of water resources, VOX is in favor of a National Water Plan that connects all basins. PSC, on the other hand, is committed to modernization to confront drought so that the basins are self-sufficient. Junts would be along a very similar line to the socialists, although it also incorporates water management proposals in line with nature conservation, such as the elimination of obstacles in rivers and obsolete power plants to improve river connectivity.

CUP charged against the Government for lifting the drought emergency and prioritizing the tourism sector over the peasantry. He is in favor of technological solutions in conditions of water deficit, but points out that the long-term solution is not desalination plants, since the environmental and energy cost is unaffordable, especially if their use is recreational and not for the people of the territory. .

Comuns Sumar agrees with the CUP in the commitment to public water management, and advocates respecting the water sustainability of the rivers of the internal basins and the maintenance of their environmental flows.

ERC affirms that it is necessary to ensure rational and efficient use of water and promote a new water culture.

It states that it is necessary to confront the current drought and be more resilient to future episodes of water scarcity, guaranteeing the availability of water in the short and long term. It positions itself against transfers and in favor of public water management. Among other proposals, it points out that a recovery plan for water and aquifers contaminated by nitrates is necessary, among other proposals.