Barcelona + Sostenible

More than 160 experts and representatives from European cities and various organisations gathered on 11 March at Ca l’Alier to participate in the 4th Barcelona 2030 Agenda Meeting. The fourth edition will focus on city climate policies, at a time marked by the rise of climate denialism in certain political and social sectors.

During the meeting, presented by Evelyn Segura, biologist and science communicator, topics such as the energy transition, sustainable mobility, decarbonisation, sustainability policies, and the role of cities in the fight against climate change were addressed.

A political commitment to sustainability

The event was opened by Laia Bonet, Barcelona City Council’s First Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing, who emphasised the need for a global and cross-cutting approach to climate policies. Bonet highlighted the city’s desire to share experiences and learn from the climate and mobility policies of other European cities. “Cities have demonstrated their willingness to be drivers of change in order to achieve a climate neutrality, which will guide the fight against climate change,” Bonet pointed out. She also emphasised that this strategy in Barcelona has realised through the Climate Plan, which covers energy transition, mobility, and the city’s adaptation to increasingly intense phenomena such as torrential rain, heatwaves, and droughts. Bonet took the opportunity to highlight two key facts about the city: that Barcelona has the cleanest air in recorded history and sustainable mobility rates of 80%.

The Spanish Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, emphasised the severity of the current climate crisis, which compels the European Union to act swiftly and provide solutions, as the effects also directly impact the economy and the security of citizens: “There is no place on the planet that can escape the impacts of climate change. We must base our policies on knowledge, science, respect for civil rights, and democracy. And this is the foundation of our commitment to the green agenda.” He also discussed future challenges and the commitment to presenting the European Adaptation Plan, to strengthen Europe’s resilience, as well as the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, which will involve an investment of 308 billion euros.

Low-emission public transport: a priority for cities

The first round table brought together experts from various European cities to discuss how public transport can become a key tool in the fight against climate change. João Vieira, Director of Strategy, Innovation and Environment at Carris-Lisboa, explained the structure of the bus network in the Portuguese capital and announced the addition of 300 new compressed natural gas buses to reduce pollution. Meanwhile, Veli Rıdvanoğlu, Head of Research Development at IETT Istanbul, explained the network in Istanbul, comprising 10 routes and recording 2,144,943 journeys per year. Looking to the future, the Turkish capital is working on new models of vehicles with greater capacity. Lisa Dipnarine, Senior Business Development Manager at TfL London highlight the goal of having a fleet of 2,500 electric buses by next year, while François Warnier, Director of Bus 2025 at RATP-Paris, noted that the French capital has already completed its transition to electric mobility.

The road to climate neutrality

The second round table discussed the actions needed to achieve the European NetZeroCities mission. Anna Lisa Boni, Deputy Mayor for European Recovery Funds, Ecological Transition and International Relations of the Bologna City Council, highlighted the 250 actions implemented to facilitate the transition to renewable energy, with a focus on citizens. Mar Jiménez, Commissioner for European Affairs at Barcelona City Council, pointed out that cities not only consume energy, but can also become producers, promoting new models of energy self-sufficiency. Ada Ámon, CEO of the Budapest Climate Agency, emphasised that households account for 40% of energy consumption, making it essential to focus efforts on this sector. Finally, Manuel Szapiro, Head of Representation at European Commission in Barcelona, highlighted the importance of adaptation as a key tool for mitigating the effects of climate change in cities. He also stressed the need to jointly address the challenges of financing, attracting the private sector, multi-level governance, and countering narratives critical of climate policies.

Joining forces for climate action

The third round table emphasised the need for cooperation between various actors to advance the climate transition. The speakers highlighted experiences of citizen participation and public-private collaboration that have facilitated the implementation of more impactful climate policies. Magdalena Mlochowska, Coordinator of Green Warsaw, Warsaw City Council, stressed the importance of education through subsidies for free education centres, libraries, NGOs, climate education centres, and other organisations. “More civic involvement and more investment in education are needed,” she said. Regarding Barcelona, Laia Bonet highlighted citizen collaboration and the importance of changing habits to improve engagement in terms of sustainable mobility and recycling. She referred to actions such as climate shelters, specialised climate management training, improving the conditions of schools, and climate adaptation in schools. “We are adapting the entire city,” she said. Bonet also praised the Barcelona+Sustainable Network and the spaces for citizen participation to address climate change from all sectors. The aim is to “listen to all voices, review the policies being carried out, explore new approaches, and ensure a just transition for all.” “The future lies in cities,” she added.

Barcelona rewards the best sustainable initiatives

The meeting concluded with the Barcelona + Sustainable 2030 Agenda Awards Ceremony. Eleven awards were presented in this third edition.

In the People category, the award went to the “No woman without a home” project by the ASSIS Shelter Association, recognising its work in the reintegration of homeless women.

In the Planet category, the award went to “Envaso”, by ENVASO INNOVA SL, for its commitment to eliminating disposable packaging and promoting the circular economy. A special mention was given to the “Circular Wool” project by the Solidança Foundation for its approach to the circular economy by transforming waste.

In the Prosperity category, the award went to RECATUR, from the Asociación Social Andròmines, for integrating social and environmental goals and promoting the circular economy, and social and labour market inclusion. A special mention recognised the work of the Cooperativa Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes de Barcelona (Barcelona Street Vendors’ Cooperative) for providing decent and inclusive employment opportunities to migrants facing social exclusion.

In the Peace category, the MENTS project by the A.I.E Educational Platform was recognised for its transformative impact.

In the Partnerships category, the award went to the Cor Respira Bellvitge choir, part of the Orfeó Català Foundation – Palau de la Música Catalana, which links music and health to improve the quality of life and symptoms of patients.

For the Decarbonisation awards, the business award went to the sustainable high-efficiency electric propulsion project by ESEA Propulsion. The award for non-profit organisations went to the Guinardó Energy Community, by CULTURAL ROCAGUINARDA, SCCL, for of an efficient, scalable, logical, viable, and social model.

In the Water Saving category, the business award went to “We’re Going Green”, by EspaiQbic arquitectura, SLP and Laboratorios Almirall, for its cross-cutting nature and potential. The award for non-profit organisations went to the project “With the water we collect, we water our garden” by EBM El Petit Príncep for its ability to engage the entire educational community in sustainability initiatives.

You can watch the entire 4th Barcelona 2030 Agenda Meeting on the Barcelona City Council YouTube channel.