Green travel in Spain

On 8th October 2025, Spain’s Congress of Deputies approved the Sustainable Mobility Bill, recognising a right to safe, accessible and sustainable mobility and setting a national framework to decarbonise transport.

The 2025 electricity picture in Spain has quietly tilted in households’ favour.

Spain’s air is generally kind to lungs, which is handy if you’re weighing up cities with the cleanest air in Spain. According to IQAir, the 2024 country average sits at 48 on the US AQI scale, which is in the 'good' band for day‑to‑day life.

Spain has rolled out higher tourist taxes and stricter local rules across key destinations this year, aiming to curb overtourism and ease pressure on residents. From city surcharges to tighter rental licensing and guest registration, the travel experience is changing at check‑in and on the street.

Málaga City Council, via its Environmental Sustainability and Urban Planning departments, has unveiled one of the city’s most transformative projects: the urban integration of the Guadalmedina River.

The depopulation of rural Spain, often called España vaciada or 'Empty Spain', is a long-standing issue.

The phenomenon known as 'España vaciada', or 'Empty Spain', refers to the demographic shift leaving many of the country's rural areas sparsely populated. This trend presents a continuing social and economic challenge for the nation.

Tourist taxes, often referred to as sustainable tourism levies or city taxes in Spain, are an increasingly common measure for destinations managing high visitor numbers.

Imagine if you could get paid just for deciding to settle in a particular Spanish village. In some corners of Spain, it’s become a genuine offer. A steady trickle of locals towards the cities has left many rural areas nearly deserted.