Science and Innovation

With a degree in environmental sciences and two master’s degrees in renewable energies and public policy, Helena Barracó began working at the City Council in 2000. She has worked in different areas, such as Waste, Environmental Planning and Strategy. She was also the founder of the Col·legi d’Ambientòlegs and is a mother of two children. Currently, and since 2017, she is the Head of Programs and Equipment of the Climate Change Office, from where she also coordinates the XEAB.

You have been working in the City Council for over 20 years in environmental matters. What attracted you to this job?

I liked it, and I like urban ecology, and above all, action. Joining the City Council was a good opportunity to apply the knowledge I had acquired. I felt the need to do something more practical. And I already believed, and I continue to believe, that public bodies must guide and show the way. Structural changes to address all environmental problems must start with the administration.

What milestones would you highlight?

From my professional experience, I would like to highlight the drive for the Ajuntament + Sostenible with which environmental and social clauses were introduced in public procurement. I especially remember when all the wooden benches in public spaces were made of certified sustainable wood. I also participated in the development of the first Waste Prevention Plan for Barcelona and now I am proud to be in the coordination of the Barcelona + Sostenible, where there are 1.500 organizations, educational centers and people committed to climate action and sustainability.

Has there been any verifiable and real progress towards a more conscious and sustainable city in this time?

I have seen a very positive evolution. We are moving in the right direction but we need to accelerate action. Barcelona is already in the third More Sustainable Barcelona Citizen Commitment 2024-2034. To understand ourselves, it is the reference framework of the Barcelona + Sustainable Network, a group of organizations and people who collectively build a more socially and environmentally responsible city. It is made up of more and more entities, educational centers, businesses, companies, and individuals. Currently, the network already has more than 1,500 members. The Network also has a regulated participation body, the Citizen Council for Sustainability. All members of the network receive training, advice, resources and economic incentives to deploy good practices and also have the opportunity to collaborate and take joint action with all other membres.

Let’s talk about the XEAB. Define very briefly, for people who don’t know what it is or how it works, what does it do?

The Barcelona Environmental Facilities Network is a set of public facilities that offer stable and periodic programming for sustainability. It is a decentralized model with a total of 19 facilities, including La Fàbrica del Sol with the Ateneu de Fabricació digital specialized in circular economy and the Environmental Education Documentation Service, the Espai lúdic ambiental familiar de la Ciutadella, or the Centre de la Platja. And some more district-wide facilities such as the Aula Ambiental del Punt Verd de la Sagrada Família (Eixample), the Aula Ambiental de Can Deu (Les Corts), Can Miralletes (Sant Martí) or the Aula Ambiental del Bosc Turull (Gràcia), among others. All of them manage and organize activities for diverse audiences such as workshops, guided tours, recreational events, conferences or thematic days around energy saving, how to connect to renewables, how to prevent waste, how to make your own vegetable garden, the promotion of responsible consumption or how to get involved in initiatives such as community composting or energy communities. From the Environmental Facilities Network, cycles of joint activities are promoted, co-created and resources are made to make them known, enrich content and make them reach wider audiences.

What outstanding actions, in the near future, are planned or would you like to mention?

Firstly, participation in the Science Festival (May 31 and June 1). Many of the entities have prepared activities ranging from demonstrations to workshops or also spaces for the little ones. And then the world days that are approaching, June 5 World Environment Day, and June 8 World Oceans Day. For the first, a morning entitled “We Are a Network, We Are Climate Action” is organized (on June 4) where the Barcelona + Sustainable program and the Climate Plan are reviewed, and different presentations and debates will be held. And the second (which will take place on Sunday June 15) is centered on a day on the beach where 10 entities will take part and organize an awareness-raising and waste collection action.

What other alliances have been opened or are being studied?

In order to reach audiences beyond the convinced, we believe that it is necessary to diversify formats and spaces where the culture of sustainability can be spread. There are several proposals and actions. From the XEAB we want to intensify the work with the network of civic centers, the network of libraries, the senior citizens’ and youth centers. Each urban intervention made with sustainability criteria is an opportunity to disseminate the values ​​of the culture of sustainability, such as the Parc de Glòries, where every 15 days we program activities for a family audience such as games, workshops or visits to explain and disseminate different aspects of the environment. The neighborhood festivals or the city’s major cultural and sporting events are also opportunities to prevent waste or save energy and make it known to a wider audience.

As an environmentalist, you know that the moment is very critical. We talk about “climate change”, but we also have serious problems with pollution, with the abuse of water, with the decline of species and populations, with health, with biogeochemical changes… You yourself have said on other occasions that a radical change is needed. Is society ready for it?

We carry out the Survey of Environmental Habits and Values ​​of Barcelona, ​​which gives us very valuable information to better guide policies in this regard. We detect that awareness of climate change has increased and the majority of citizens consider that it is a serious or very serious problem that can affect their lives (the drought situations or the recent DANA that the Valencian Country has suffered have contributed to this). On the one hand, people are concerned about everything that reaches them in the news, but they do not quite see the connection between the global problem and everyday actions. They also comment that they lack information about what the alternatives are and how to act. We need to continue working to offer opportunities to get involved, be part of the solution, and scale up successful initiatives.

How can citizens be more involved in this necessary change?

We need to go back to what we said at the beginning. From the administration, we must be an example, act accordingly with what is said and make the path towards this change easy. There is a lot of information but it still needs to be brought closer with more spaces and above all create a story that helps it penetrate more. There are many initiatives, but they are not yet known, or not as much as we would like. A very valuable tool that people can consult is the list of sustainability culture activities of the Agenda + Sostenible. And if you want to get involved, I encourage you to become part of the People + Sostenibles network.