José Luis Piedra

Tuesday, 3 February 20, 13:39

ANDALUCÍA is leading the way in environmental planning, with 96% of the region’s municipalities now operating under dedicated climate change action plans.

756 out of 785 townships have successfully implemented mitigation, communication, and adaptation strategies. The regional government has targeted smaller municipalities with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants to integrate them into the province’s green strategy.

Among the most populated municipalities, the cities of Cordoba, Granada, Huelva and Cadiz and the towns of Chiclana de la Frontera, El Ejido, Estepona, Benalmádena, Torremolinos and La Línea de la Concepción already have these plans in place.

Meanwhile Alcalá de Guadaíra’s plan is in process and Ronda’s has been completed, according to data from the regional ministry for the environment and sustainability.

The priority is to focus on towns and cities, due to the importance of their role in fighting climate change.

All of these factors can have a major impact on the air quality and public health, as well as the physical and psychological wellbeing of people who live in these areas.

To develop these plans, the department headed by regional minister Catalina García is keeping the application window open until 4 March for local councils to request grants from monies set aside for this purpose, totalling five million euros.

Climate change is a threat to urban areas. A rise of temperature between 2C and 4.5C in 2050, or even 5.5C in worst-case scenarios by the end this century, is predicted.

The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations paints a picture that shows a future where droughts will last longer, temperatures will be more extreme and weather conditions more severe. By mid-century (between 2041-2070), this is what the IPCC predicts. In recent years, heatwaves and torrential downpours have been felt to some extent.

These local climate action plans are an important tool for the Junta’s comprehensive approach to this issue.

Since 2021, Andalucía’s climate action plan (PAAC) has been developing this strategy, encompassing mitigation and adaptation policies that have mobilised more than 2.6 billion euros of investment through 231 measures in just three years.

The Junta has developed a plan that involves all regional ministries in order to move towards a resilient, effective model capable of protecting the strategic sectors of the country, the natural environment, and the wellbeing of its people, despite the climate change.

Andalucía already has a ‘regional greenhouse gas emissions inventory’, which allows for monitoring the evolution of emissions by sector and adjusting the mitigation policies of local councils through their active participation in the overall strategy.

A ‘catalogue on climate change adaptation’ is also available in the region. This catalogue, which has a multi-sectoral focus, contains the most important specific and adapted actions that can be taken by key sectors, such as agriculture and water management. It also includes public health, environmental conservation, and urban infrastructure.