Barcelona facing climate change
Given the challenges posed by the climate emergency, Barcelona is taking measures to reduce emissions but also to adapt to the effects the city is already experiencing and will increasingly experience. Barcelona is therefore becoming a proactive city that adopts a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change and assumes its responsibility in that regard; a city that can find opportunities in difficulties and adapts to new climate conditions intelligently, generating co-benefits for people and socio-economic activity.
Climate shelters
A network of spaces that provide thermal comfort to the population, while maintaining other uses or functionalities.
Barcelona Superblock
Barcelona has embarked on a large transformation of public space to take on the big challenges of the future and put residents’ lives at the centre.
Agenda + Sustainable
Want to know what's going on in the city? A monthly publication for those interested in sustainability activities: workshops, talks, interactive games…
Climate emergency: science responds
The scientific community met in May in Barcelona to celebrate the second Scientific Conference, a space to share experiences and research on climate change.
Exposició itinerant: Barcelona respon a l’emergència climàtica
The aim behind this exhibition is to offer an educational, interactive and close-up presentation of the climate emergency in Barcelona.
Climate emergency declaration
On 15 January 2020, the city of Barcelona declared a climate emergency and accelerated a series of changes involving all players in the city.
Women and climate
Barcelona wants to promote women's leadership in the fight against climate change. To do so, it has joined the C40 Cities’ Women4Climate (W4C) programme.
Climate shelters in schools
Barcelona City Council has received funding from Urban Innovation Action (UIA), a European Commission programme as part of the ‘Adapting schools to climate change through green, blue and grey’, project
Discover the
Climate Plan
El Pla Clima pretén ser una visió integradora de les mesures per fer front al canvi climàtic, que permeti assolir els objectius del nou Pacte d’Alcaldes i Alcaldesses per l’Energia i el Clima que ha signat l’Ajuntament de Barcelona.
Barcelona has a specific plan for the climate emergency, the Climate Plan 2018-2030, the four key areas of which are mitigation, adaptation, citizen action and climate justice.
Barcelona's strategy for tackling climate change:
- Focuses on people, because climate change directly affects the health and quality of life of citizens.
- Seeks to comprehensively transform the city in order to tackle the risks and turn them into opportunities.
- Speeds up efficiency, renovation and the introduction of renewable energies so we are better adapted.
- Approaches this through a process of co-production with city residents.
News
Barcelona participates in the World Climate Summit COP28
01/12/2023 - 14:22 h
Environment. Barcelona takes to the summit the need to prioritise policies and actions for a just transition in the fight against climate change.
Pre-emergency stage of Barcelona’s drought protocol activated
30/11/2023 - 11:37 h
Drought. A new scenario not initially contemplated in the Drought Plan.
New paving made from non-reusable plastics and residue ink
24/11/2023 - 16:53 h
Urban planning and infrastructures. The new surface has been installed in Carrer de Josep Solvila, in Sant Andreu.
The Drought, Water Saving, and Decarbonisation: Key Themes of the More Sustainable Schools Course
17/11/2023 - 14:03 h
Sustainability. A total of 14 educational centres are joining this municipal programme this year, comprising 381 centres from across the city.
FAQs
But... hasn’t Earth survived many episodes of climate change? Why should we be worried?
What can a city like Barcelona do in response to a global problem like climate change?
What are the biggest challenges that Barcelona will have to face in relation to climate change?
What are the biggest climate justice challenges that Barcelona will have to face in relation to climate change?
But... hasn’t Earth survived many episodes of climate change? Why should we be worried?
The answer to this question is made up of various arguments that complement one another:
- Because this is the first climate change caused by human activity, while the previous episodes were the result of natural causes.
- Because this is the fastest climate change ever experienced on Earth.
- Because it is causing an increase in average temperatures which has clear and serious effects on ecosystems and people.
- Because it is unjust and causes inequalities. Not all countries are equally responsible for generating greenhouse gases, and not all countries have the same capacity to adapt. In fact, the countries most affected and with the greatest difficulties adapting to the changes are those that have contributed least to the problem. It is therefore a problem that goes beyond strictly environmental aspects to become a question of ethics and responsibility.
What can a city like Barcelona do in response to a global problem like climate change?
Cities are part of the climate change problem, as the majority of emissions and energy consumption are concentrated in cities around the world, but for that reason they are also a key part of the solution.
In general terms, the majority of cities are already experiencing the impacts associated with climate change, such as effects on health, increasing temperatures, aggravation of the urban heat island effect, more periods of drought, more flooding, more heat waves, rising sea levels, reduction in water resources, etc. Local government measures are crucial to managing climate change issues, both on a local scale, because they increase the quality of life of city residents, and on a global scale, since the world’s urban populations make up over 54% of the planet’s inhabitants. In the European Union, 74% of the population lives in urban areas, consuming 75% of the energy.
Cities and their metropolitan surroundings demonstrate a close link between urbanisation, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Urban density and layout are key factors in influencing energy consumption, especially in the transport and construction industries.
What are the biggest challenges that Barcelona will have to face in relation to climate change?
An increase in the number of heat waves and reduced availability of water for consumption. There will be more heat waves and they will also be more intense and longer lasting. Night-time temperatures will go up too, particularly in neighbourhoods near the coast. The first challenge to tackle is the heat waves. In the last 34 years, there have been eight such episodes in the city. The most intense of these was in 1982 but the longest occurred in 2003, lasting for 13 days.
Night-time temperature increases may cause problems for people's rest and recuperation. The neighbourhoods closest to the coast might be the worst affected by the increase in night-time temperatures. These increases could have consequences for people's health, as the nocturnal period of rest is the time when people recover from the whole day.
On the other hand, by 2050 it is anticipated that there will be a reduction in the availability of water resources and that demand will have increased by 4%. The city will need an additional 18 hm3 of water per year.
What are the biggest climate justice challenges that Barcelona will have to face in relation to climate change?
From the perspective of climate justice, the most important challenges posed by climate change will be tackling energy poverty, health problems linked to heat waves and increasing food prices. With climate change, and given the demographic and socio-economic dynamics of the city, the population most vulnerable to energy poverty will increase in size.
Although the future forecasts talk about a reduction in energy demand for heating buildings, the demand for energy and water supplies will increase with climate change (ventilation and refrigeration systems, personal hygiene and laundry). Households will have to deal with the higher costs of meeting their demand for electricity and water (not gas). In the coming years, there will be an increase in the number of households with dependent children and single-person households due to the growth in migratory movements and the ageing population.
In short, energy poverty will have to be redefined with climate change: there will be a fall in energy demand for heating but an increased demand for water and electricity for ventilation and climate control in buildings. The population most vulnerable to energy poverty will increase in size, given the demographic and socio-economic dynamics of the city.
