In 2023, the Basque Country emitted 17 million tonnes of CO2, meaning a 33% drop in emissions on the 2005 baseline year, on the pathway to the target set for 2030 in the Basque Energy Transition and Climate Change Act

After the Climate & Circularity Calculator tool was brought into service for the simplified assessment of the environmental performance of organisations, products and services from a life-cycle approach, Ihobe has published three new methodological guides to help companies and organisation to advance in the decarbonisation targets. At the same time, the launch of the new Ecoinnovation in the Basque Country website features 179 projects implemented between 2016 and 2023 by the Basque companies participating in the Basque Government's Circular Ecoinnovation Programme. The Ihobe portal, a trailblazing website in Europe, details the work on ecodesign, demonstration in circular design and strategic ecoinnovation, which are also compiled in two Ihobe technical publications with the datasheets on each project.

As regards environmental planning, Ihobe contributed to the preparation of the first Basque Air Quality Plan 2030, approved in March 2024, which meant getting ahead of European legislation by focusing the goals and actions on improving citizen health. The Plan's targets include cutting nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions by 70% and PM2.5 emissions by 50% on 2005 values. Furthermore, Ihobe - in conjunction with the Environmental Health Area of the Basque Government's Department of Health - published the Basque Environmental Profile, a monographic document addressing the link between Health and Environment.

As regards climate action, the deployment of the Climate Change Adaptation Mission has marked the start of the work on the costs of inaction by selecting 30 demonstrators for the adaptation of the different sectors such as infrastructures, natural environment, urban environment, primary sector and spatial planning. As part of the analysis of the investment in the Basque Country in conserving and maintaining its natural spaces, the 'Economic Assessment of the Natura Network in the Basque Country - Methodology and Results 2010-2021' study has been published; it reports a total investment of over €200 million with an estimated return of €9 per euro invested in ecosystem services, which positions the Basque Country as one of the territories with the greatest investment in the European Union overall.

About Ihobe

Ihobe, the Environmental Management Agency attached to the Basque Government's Ministry of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, is striving to improve the environment by integrating environmental criteria into public policies as an aspect of competitive value for the Basque Country and its organisations. As the progress report details, Ihobe has successfully implemented 90% of the 55 environmental commitments and initiatives established by the Basque Government for the XII parliamentary term.

Ihobe works with companies, the public administration and the public; its levers are Innovation, Digitalisation, Advanced Project Management, and Cooperation. Ihobe is committed to transparency, advanced management and good governance, and gender equality. The team is currently made up of 59 people (43 women and 16 men).