Gobiernos locales y protección del medio ambiente en España. La protección de la calidad del aire como uno de los principales desafíos de las ciudades

Identifier:  imarina:9370409

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9370409

Authors:  Casado LC

Abstract:
This paper aims to analyse the central role of local governments in environmental protection. This is a relevant topic, in a context of growing importance of cities, in which sustainability appears as an unpostponable challenge. To this effect, it is structured in three distinct parts. The first aims to highlight the growing role of cities in environmental protection, despite the global nature of many environmental problems and the existence of numerous transnational challenges. The second focuses on the analysis of local competences in environmental matters, with special reference to municipalities; it warns of some of the existing problems; and points out some of the future challenges for effective environmental protection at the local level. Finally, the third section focuses on one of the main challenges facing cities: the protection of air quality, and particularly refers to the challenge currently posed for many municipalities by the implementation of Low Emission Zones (hereinafter, LEZs) as an instrument to combat air pollution and climate change in the urban sphere.