Ihobe is marking the International Day of Climate Action on Friday 24 October by reaffirming its commitment to climate action by showcasing the climate adaptation projects that it is leading in the Basque Country. 

The key initiatives include the impetus being given to nature-based solutions, improving urban resilience and the integrating of climate criteria in territorial planning. Those projects are in line with the goals of the Basque Energy Transition and Climate Change Act; they are in response to the challenges raised by the new climate scenario, with the greater frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the rising sea level and the need to protect critical infrastructures and vulnerable ecosystems.

The Basque Government will mobilise €27.5 million to adapt the territory in five pilot actions in Zarautz, Bakio, the Txingudi marshes, the Astegieta area in Vitoria-Gasteiz and the municipalities of Greater Bilbao along the banks of the river estuary

Against this backdrop, Ihobe is showcasing the KAIA initiative, a trailblazing strategy of the Basque Government to bolster territorial resilience to the impacts of climate change. KAIA (Klima Aldaketaren InpaktuA, impact of climate change, by its initials in Basque) is coordinated by the Climate Change Adaptation and Natural Heritage Directorate through Ihobe, and the participants include the Basque Water Agency-URA, the Urban Planning and Spatial Planning Directorate, the Meteorology and Emergency Response Directorate, Euskalmet; AZTI has also provided technical support in this phase. 

The purpose of this round table is to bring together the necessary public and private stakeholders to successfully implement demonstration projects and replicate them elsewhere. Within the framework of KAIA, nature-based solutions and innovative actions will be designed and implemented to reduce vulnerability to tidal, river and rain flooding, heat waves, as well as early warning and monitoring systems. 

This initiative and the concept of a climate change adaptation demonstration project are part of the European Union's Adaptation Mission and the European Regions4Climate project, positioning the Basque Country as a European benchmark in climate adaptation.

The sea level along the Basque coast has risen by around 20 cm since 1800; 2022 and 2023 were the warmest on record

KAIA demonstration projects

The KAIA initiative is rolling out five demonstration projects: 

1. Zarautz, waterfront adaptation​: remodelling of the Narros-Munoa area, analysis of the road anti-glare screens and breakwater, possible remodelling of the entrances to the beach in the western area and environmental improvement of the dune system, along with monitoring the outcome of the intervention. Timeline: 2025 - December 2028. Estimated budget: €4.5 million
2. Bakio, urban marshland and floodable forest: climate change adaptation project along the River Estepona. Timeline: 2025 - December 2026. Estimated budget: €3.05 million
3. Resilient Txingudi: expansion of the San Lorenzo marshland, removal of sports equipment and connections with San Lorenzo marshland, study of alternatives in the Mendelu neighbourhood, Jaizubia marshland expansion study, along with monitoring the effects of the intervention. Timeline: 2025 - December 2028. Estimated budget: €10.5 million
4. Astegieta, restoring nature: restoring the artificial Astegieta meander in Vitoria-Gasteiz, thus reducing the likelihood of flooding. Timeline: 2025 - December 2028. Estimated budget: €4.1 million
5. Bilbao River Estuary: set up complex governance and take a more informed position to address the impacts of climate change on the river estuary, and work with all the stakeholders to analyse the measures to be adopted in the medium and long term. While the focus is on incremental adaptation to climate change in specific areas in the short term, with nature-based solutions at Punta Kaiku and Punta Zorroza. Timeline: 2025 - December 2030. Estimated budget: €5.9 million

Total budget: €27.5 million

This event will be held as part of ASTEKLIMA, the Basque Climate and Energy Week

Climate change indicators in the Basque Country  

• Annual average temperature in the Basque Country: in 2023 → up +3ºC on the 1991-2020 average.
• Heat wave days: 23 days (2022).
• Number of tropical nights: 75 (2023).
• Days with heavy rain (over 40 litres per m2 a day): 4 days (2023).
• Rising sea level along the Basque Coast: 20 cm since 1800, rising rate up by 1.5 to 3.5 cm per decade since the 90s.
• Evolution of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions: 38% down in 2024 compared to 2005.
• Total greenhouse gas emissions: 15.8 million tonnes (2024).
• Stake of renewable energies in final consumption: 20.4 % (2023).

The temperature in the Basque Country has risen 0.3ºC per decade since 1970. 2022 and 2023 were the warmest on record.

Basque Climate and Energy Week

The International Day of Climate Action is marked during the sixth edition of ASTEKLIMA, the Basque Climate and Energy Week driven by the Basque Government’s Ministry of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability through its EVE and Ihobe publicly-owned entities. 

From 17 to 26 October, ASTEKLIMA will strive to bring the challenge of the energy and climate transition to the table and engage citizens to change their habits on the premise that ‘every action, however small, makes a difference’.