LIFE IP Urban KLIMA 2050 accelerates the resilience of the Basque Country to climate risks

Location & Region: Basque Country, Europe

Partner: Regions4

Implementer: Klima 2050, Basque Government’s public environment agency

System: Urban / Policies, urban planning.

Urban Klima 2050 is the largest climate action project developed in the Basque Country. It aims to implement the Climate Change Strategy of the Basque Country to 2050, KLIMA 2050, in the urban context. To this end, the project aims to advance climate governance at all administrative levels through the development of action plans linked to the strategy as well as to promote the integration of climate change in different sectoral policies, such as land use and urban planning, health, water resource management and energy. Urban Klima 2050 is a demonstrative and action-oriented project in which case studies are being developed as laboratories for adaptation to climate change. The application of organic farming, the renaturation of a dam, the creation of an urban marsh, or a flooded forest, are some examples of planned actions that will be implemented over 6 years.

The project, coordinated by the Basque Government’s public environment agency, Ihobe, also involves the regional agencies and departments responsible for the management of water resources, energy, health, and ports. Other members of the project are the three provincial governments, 7 municipalities, and 5 research and technology centers.

Strategic actions and policies

• Review of the Basque Country Climate Change Strategy – KLIMA 2050.

• Preparation of the ‘Energy Transition and Climate Change Plan for the Basque Country 2021-2024’. This plan, which is a preliminary step to the Basque Country’s first Energy Transition and Climate Change Law, currently being processed, has specific objectives:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%.

• Reach a 20% share of renewable energy in final energy consumption.

Urban and peri-urban developments

• Recovery of the coastal area of Tonpoi in Bermeo (Bizkaia) for public use and with climate change adaptation criteria.

• Naturalisation of the Artikutza dam, and recovery of a plantation with native species to replace a previous Lawson cypress forest in Donostia/San Sebastian.

• Drawing up a catalog of nature-based solutions (NBS) for Vitoria-Gasteiz.

• Installation of photovoltaic panels at 4 different points in the city of Donostia/San Sebastian for self-consumption.

• Creation of a pedestrian and cycle path in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Bizkaia).

• Improving biodiversity in the green belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Progress in river basins

• Intervention and improvement of the Errekatxulo regatta riversides in Donostia/San Sebastian.

• Restoration in protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network in Labastida (Alava) with restoration work on the river Ebro.

Progress in coastal areas

• Interventions to identify alternatives to minimise damage caused by the combined effect of waves and tides on Zarautz’s seaside (Gipuzkoa).

• Installation of a coastal video surveillance system on Mount Igeldo (Donostia/San Sebastian) to monitor La Concha and Ondarreta beaches.

• Installation of ARMS (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures) equipment to study the effects of climate change on the Biscay coast.

• Installation of a pH sensor for monitoring ocean acidification on the Basque coast.

• Mapping of seagrass meadows in Basque estuaries.

• 40 actions and 20 partner entities

Read more here.