From Decarbonization to Depopulation: An Emerging Challenge for the Carbon-Intensive Regions under the Energy Transition in Spain
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article"From decarbonization to depopulation: An emerging challenge for the carbon-intensive regions under the energy transition in Spain.” describes the socioeconomic impact from closure of coal-based economic activities in certain regions of Spain. The manuscript aptly introduces the topic and describes the methodology and data sources. The temporal analysis of population, employment and other demographic data for the CIRs seem to support the conclusion that decarbonization from closure of coal facilities has led to depopulation.
Improvement Points:
1.) Some figures such as Fig 2 and Fig 10 are unclear and unreadable. Would suggest to redact them.
2.) Suggest comparing the trends in occupation growth ( Fig 12) between CIRs and other municipalities ( similar to that done for population growth) to better support the conculsion.
3.) The possiblity of economic growth from adding carbon capture facilities to CIRs is not considered. Kindly include an explanation for the same.
4.) Some paragraphs are too long, and should be breaken into half to increas eoverall readability.
Author Response
Thank you for your valuable comments and suggestions. I have attached my responses to this mail.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Thank you for an interesting, well-written and well-structured paper. Please find below my comments in the hope they can improve the manuscript.
1. While an exit from coal has been under way for decades, the argument needs to be updated/ refined taking into account the recent developments in Ukraine. I would be particularly interested to see if coal fossil phase-out has been concluded, and if not, whether it has been revived and if there are any short-term plans for reversal of the situation in Spain, as in other countries.
2. I feel the methodology needs to better elaborated upon. You mention qualitative/ quantitative methods, but do not introduce them nor showcase how you will use them.
3. Decarbonisation and the impact on the coal industry can be also contextualised not only within the energy transition, but also more broadly within the de-industrialisation that has impacted so many peripheries of Europe. The results you provide are very similar, so I was wondering whether the coal industry has unique features compared to other industries (e.g. textiles etc), whose flight from local economies left a huge mark.
4. In the discussion of the findings, you do refer to other potential drivers, such as the Spanish economic crisis. I am not convinced with the way you conlude this side-argument, though, as it is not substantiated that it was the impact of the exit of the coal industry rather than broader structural factors and the financial crisis that caused a demographic change. I am not saying the latter is the case, only that your claim is not substantiated adequately. Is it possible to refine this argument?
5. In regards to the male/ female ratio, I guess you want to say 0.967, rather than 96.7?
6. Last, your discussion on the migration dynamics seems superficial, as how they are measured is not evidenced. Cuold you perhaps substantiate this point more?
Author Response
Thank you for your valuable comments and suggestions. I have attached my responses to this mail.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Author,
Though work is comprehensive and interesting, I have a few comments:
the figures are having low resolution and need to be modified.
It will be very interesting to compare your result with similar studies in region having similar situation.
Author Response
Thank you for your valuable comments and suggestions. I have attached my responses to this mail.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
