Urban Klima 2050 launches the development of a citizen climate empowerment action plan

11/11/2022

With the aim of engaging and training citizens in climate change – so that each person feels part of the problem and part of the solution – and of facilitating the switch to action, the LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 project, along with representatives of 15 Basque stakeholders, has taken part in the first working session to develop the 'Citizen Climate Empowerment Action Plan to 2025' of the Basque Country.

During the session, held in Bilbao on 10 November, the delegates worked on pinpointing the barriers, needs, rationale and behaviour that curb or drive Basque society to change to greener habits and conduct. Four psychological profiles (high commitment, passive/active, lower impact for other reasons, and denial) were the tool used. The profiles were obtained from a citizen segmentation conducted with the Social Psychological Area at the University of the Basque Country and where the focus was on the perspective of environmental psychology.

The participants delved further into three psychological profiles during an interactive session and using practical exercises; they analysed barriers, needs, rationale and behaviour; and ended by pooling and brainstorming different action proposals to mitigate the effects of climate change.

A second session is planned for the end of November to advance in the development of the plan and make progress in the co-defining of the citizen climate empower actions to be included in the plan.