Mandatory Carbon Reporting in 2026: Spain’s Big Step Toward Net Zero

Starting in 2026, companies in Spain will need to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, marking a significant regulatory shift for businesses across the country. The rule requires firms to report Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions based on 2025 data and is the centrepiece of Spain’s new environmental emergency plan. The plan aims to speed up decarbonisation, strengthen resilience against natural disasters, and accelerate investment in clean energy following wildfires that destroyed more than 300,000 hectares.

Expansive Spanish hills with forests and wind turbines producing renewable energy. AI generated picture.

Additional obligations are on the way. By 2028, large companies must also provide Scope 3 emissions data. From 2026 onwards, all businesses will be required to submit five-year greenhouse gas reduction strategies. ‘Engagement this year is critical’, the plan warns, since the disclosure requirements apply retroactively to 2025 performance.

The initiative goes beyond corporate reporting. It will establish a permanent State Agency for Civil Protection and Emergencies, create a nationwide network of environmental refuges, and enforce stricter forest management and land-use restrictions, including limits on building in high-risk areas.

Spain is also stepping up its clean energy transition. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, more than 5 GW of solar projects entered the permitting process. To meet its 2030 goals, the country must add over 21 GW of new solar capacity and deploy 12 GW of hydrogen electrolysers. Already accounting for 20% of EU green hydrogen projects, Spain is positioning itself as a leader in renewable energy. Its long-term vision calls for 100% renewable electricity and a 97% renewable share in the total energy mix by 2050.

The stakes are both environmental and economic. Over the past five years, natural disasters have cost Spain an estimated $37 billion (€32 billion). At the same time, the country is investing a similar figure—$32 billion—into clean technology projects under its recovery plan.

For businesses, the message is clear: regulatory compliance is no longer optional, and those ready to align with Spain’s ambitious targets will find opportunities in one of Europe’s most dynamic clean energy markets.