Barcelona terraces are still heated by patio heaters.

Gas-powered patio heaters are being used by tourists in Barcelona's historic center until 2025, when they will be banned due to their carbon emissions.

The ban is set to take effect on January 1, and it's the culmination of years of battle between the City Council and restaurant owners who are worried about losing business because customers will avoid outdoor seating during winter.

The city council has allowed the measure to be phased out gradually to allow the hospitality industry to adapt.

The city council announced on December 17 that electric heaters of no more than 150W/m2 capacity will be allowed between November 1 and April 30.

In France, heated outdoor seating areas have already been banned. Energy conservation groups calculated that a 75m2 terrace in the winter would emit as much CO2 emissions as driving around the world three times.

Last year, a Madrid court blocked an attempt to ban heaters from outdoor areas. The city council failed to prove that heaters contributed to global climate change. (Reporting and writing by Bruna Casas, Editing by Sharon Singleton; Writing by Charlie Devereux)

(source: Reuters)