Barcelona and climate change, a constant struggle
Efforts taking place on an international level by countries around the world are the jumping off point for protecting our environment. The strong fight against climate change in Barcelona has made the city one of the 43 most active cities globally in terms of efforts to reduce the impact of pollution.
Barcelona and climate change, a priority issue that’s firmly on the agenda
A UK-based non-governmental organisation called the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) recently produced a report that assessed the environmental impacts of companies, cities and governments across Europe. As part of their research, a range of surveys were carried out asking for information about emission measurement protocols, vulnerabilities in terms of climate change within specific cities, as well as emission reduction plans, among plenty of other issues. The fight against climate change in Barcelona was ranked among the forerunners of European cities according to the report, along with cities such as Paris and New York.
This would not have been possible if climate change were not a real concern on the city’s agenda and for local authorities. Potentially, a large part of the ‘blame’ for this prominent position lies in Barcelona’s Climate Plan, which is based on two key pillars. Firstly, reducing carbon emissions by 45% before 2030. Secondly, not emitting any carbon — or achieving carbon neutrality — before 2050.
A sustainable city model: ‘superblocks’
The fight against climate change in Barcelona is based on the active participation and awareness of local citizens. This becomes easier when those in power can promote and encourage a new model of the city, where coexistence and interaction with our public spaces are key.
The initiative to create ‘superblocks’ is leading the way. But what is a ‘superblock’? Designed as urban units made up of several blocks of houses where the streets are pedestrianised to recover public space for pedestrians, motor vehicles are limited and priority is given to sustainable ways of getting around, along with shared, green and safe spaces.
This plan to recover and ‘humanise’ our public spaces involves implementing, in a coordinated and joint way, other city-wide plans on things like urban mobility, Barcelona’s commitment to the climate, as well as green and biodiversity plans. It’s thanks to these and various other initiatives that Barcelona is sending an undeniable and powerful message to other Spanish and European cities: sustainability efforts are only the start in building a better tomorrow for future generations.
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