14 municipalities and counties promote the first local climate and energy action strategy together with Ihobe and EVE

02/03/2023

• They have come together to promote a joint response towards a fair climate and energy transition in the Basque Country  
• The strategy will be reinforced with the incorporation in local entities of 24 young people trained in the field  
• Both actions are part of the Erreminta-Gida initiative, promoted by EVE and Ihobe, to support the local administration

A total of 14 municipalities and counties have joined together in the elaboration of a joint strategy to promote local action for the climate and energy transition in the Basque Country, promoted by the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) and the Ihobe Public Environmental Management Company, with the collaboration of the Basque Network of Sustainable Municipalities-Udalsarea 2030 and the LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 project. The municipalities and regions involved have a recognized track record in climate action and energy and constitute the drive, made up of: Abanto Zierbena, Amurrio, Balmaseda, Basauri, Bilbao, Donostia/San Sebastián, Durango, Eibar, Errenteria, Irun, Legazpi, Vitoria-Gasteiz and the regional entities of Cuadrilla de Gorbeialdea, Group of municipalities of Nerbioi-Ibaizabal and Oarsoaldea.

The first local strategy of the Basque Country for climate and energy seeks to adapt the support to different profiles of municipalities and to support them in compliance with climate and energy regulations. It will also allow to make progress not only in mitigating emissions, but also in adapting the territory to the impacts of climate change, as well as in incorporating citizens into local action, for which it is crucial to ensure the coherence of the messages that reach society and, in particular, those related to climate urgency.

During the first working session, the results of the diagnosis of the situation of Basque municipalities regarding climate and energy were presented, performed within the framework of the Urban Klima 2050 project, the largest climate action project in the Basque Country led by Ihobe. According to the conclusions contained in this diagnosis, there are about 50 local climate and energy plans, in force or under preparation, which represent more than 50% of the Basque population, and which correspond to municipalities and regions with a wide trajectory of work in the matter through the Udalsarea 2030 network. In addition, there are 24 Basque municipalities that are currently being adhered to the Global Covenant of Mayors for climate and energy, a global alliance of cities and local governments voluntarily committed facing climate change. 

24 young people in local administrations 

To accompany the city councils in this energy and climate transition, the public entities EVE and Ihobe have reached a collaboration agreement with Lanbide and with the Novia Salcedo Foundation for the incorporation for one year length of 24 young people who are up to 29 years old trained in climate change and energy, in order to strengthen the technical teams of local administrations.

With this initiative, which will involve an investment of about 800,000 euros, green, young and quality employment is favoured, while reinforcing those municipalities with more technical and human deficiencies. The group of young people has already begun their training, and it is expected that they will gradually join the 18 city councils and 6 regional entities that have shown their interest in the initiative.

It is expected that more interested local entities will join in the coming months, through the climate action working groups to be managed from Udalsarea 2030 with the support of the Urban Klima 2050 project.

Erreminta-Gida, initiative of support to city councils        

Both local climate and energy strategy and the programme to incorporate young people to local administration are examples of the “Erreminta-Gida” initiative, a support programme promoted by EVE and Ihobe to accompany municipalities in future challenges, in areas such as energy, climate change and sustainability.                       

Since last November, the general directors of both entities, Iñigo Ansola and Alexander Boto, as well as technical staff, have visited a dozen municipalities to present such program to the city council, group of communities and rural development entities of the Basque Country. More than 150 technical and political representatives from a hundred local entities have attended this cycle of meetings, which has been highly valued by the participants.