Basque municipalities and local entities undertake urgent climate and energy actions

25/01/2024

Ihobe, Udalsarea 2030 and EVE organise a working session as part of LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 to define a global climate and energy strategy at a local level and encourage Basque municipalities to join the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Ihobe, Udalsarea 2030 and EVE have convened a work session with different Basque municipalities and local entities to discuss the urgent need to act on climate and energy issues. The meeting, which was held as part of the LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 project, aims to define a global strategy to promote, on the one hand, the generic revitalisation of climate and energy-related issues at both a municipal and regional level in the Basque Country and, on the other, to encourage Basque municipalities to join the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Representatives from Barakaldo, Getxo, Ortuella, Azkoiti, Mutriku, Portugalete, Urkabustaiz, Goieki, Cuadrilla de la Llanada Alavesa, Cuadrilla de Gorbeialdea, Cuadrilla de Ayala, and Cuadrilla de Laguardia- Rioja Alavesa took part in the work session.

The meeting made it possible to share the strategic and regulatory framework for the climate and energy sectors, provide information on local climate and energy plans and the Covenant of Mayors, present the conclusions of the analysis carried out to ascertain the realities of Basque municipalities in terms of local action on climate and energy, and to inform those attending of the support/action tools that both Ihobe and EVE have at their disposal.

During the session, a personalised analysis was carried out on two groups (municipalities and regions) and the requirements for working on this issue at a local level were presented. The data presented highlighted the fact that 78% of towns need to promote action on adapting one or more impact chains as a matter of urgency, and the potential of regional authorities to promote local action on climate and energy.

Alicia Villazán, from the Innovation and Development Agency of Valladolid, also took part at the meeting, outlining the case of the Valladolid Mission for Climate Neutrality by 2030.

5 objectives to stimulate local action on climate and energy

The strategy defines 5 objectives to stimulate local action on climate and energy in the Basque Country in the period 2023-2025:

• Increase the number of Basque municipalities with a Climate and Energy Plan (PLCE).
• Promote political commitment to ensure that Basque municipalities move towards climate neutrality and land resilience.
• Promote the implementation of local initiatives that contribute to mitigate and reduce risks deriving from climate change.
• Promote a climate governance model that ensures coherence with other local and supra-municipal policies.
• Facilitating local and regional bodies to empower citizens as active agents in the energy and climate transition.

In addition, the different mitigation (GHG emissions inventories, carbon footprint calculation, carbon sequestration) and adaptation tools (climate scenario viewer, municipal vulnerability and risk indices, Kostaegoki, guidelines for NBS and good practices) were explained during the meeting.