Spanish ceramic firm’s CO2 output equals emissions of 660 companies amid massive forest fires

A Spanish ceramic manufacturer that uses gas to reach 1,200 °C in its kilns emits about 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Under the European Union Emissions Trading System the firm must purchase roughly €600,000 of emission allowances at €75 per tonne.

In the summer, forest fires across the communities of Madrid, Castile‑León and Valencia burned 88,000 ha in just seven days, releasing an estimated 4.84 million tonnes of CO₂ – the same amount that 660 ceramic companies would emit in a year, or twice the annual emissions of the city of Valencia. Direct economic losses from the fires are put at around €800 million, with total impact potentially reaching several billions of euros when the value of destroyed natural capital is considered.

The incidents highlight the contrast between strict EU carbon‑pricing for industrial emitters and the limited financial penalties faced by regional authorities for forest‑fire‑related emissions, despite legal obligations to manage and clean forested areas.