Common methodology for the development of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans in European municipalities (LIFE ADAPTATE)

LIFE ADAPTATE’s main objective is to contribute to improving climate policy and legislation at the local level in the European Union, in line with the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change and the 2030 climate and energy framework. The project targets in particular the process of design and implementation of local adaptation policies, their coordination with mitigation actions and the adaptation of local policies to meet climate change challenges.

Specific objectives are to:

• Help six municipalities in Spain, Portugal and Latvia to develop sustainable energy and climate action plans. These ‘SECAPS’ will incorporate the synergies, experiences and know-how of stakeholders, supporting latest technologies and a public participative approach;
• Implement, monitor and assess the SECAPs in order to improve them and collate experiences for subsequent replication and transfer;
• Demonstrate the positive impacts of pilot actions related to mitigation /adaptation at local level and the different approaches that can be used to address similar risks in local authority areas across Europe, i.e. widening the knowledge base of adaptation measures;
• Test and demonstrate cooperation schemes among local authorities in the three countries and highlight the positive impacts of involving members of the public;
• Demonstrate and transfer the process of including the evaluation of climate change impact and development of mitigation and adaptation measures policies at local level, especially in planning-related policies and projects; and
• Develop resources and guidelines for transfer and replication of tools, results and achievements.

Expected results:

• Six municipalities in Spain, Portugal and Latvia to have carried out local vulnerability assessment studies and developed and implemented sustainable energy and climate action plans;
• A further 18 local authorities to have begun preparing similar plans within two years of the end of the project;
• Demonstration of pilot climate adaptation actions to increase resilience to floods and forest fires;
• Registration of at least six municipalities in the Covenant of Mayors with future registration of at least 18 additional municipalities in Spain, Portugal and Latvia;
• Reduction of the average temperatures by 2ºC in pilot areas of Águilas, Cartagena and Lorca (Spain) and Alfândega da Fé and Mértola (Portugal). This will be achieved by creating shaded areas and a natural lagoon of around 1 000 m2;
• Increased resilience to flooding in Smiltene, Latvia (population: 14 000) through the restoration of Lake Vidusezers;
• Encouragement of natural regeneration of native plant species in Mértola through the creation of a 2.4 ha woodland;
• A sustainable tourism plan for Mértola adapted to climate change impacts;
• Reduction of forest fire risk in Alfândega da Fé by encouraging the recovery of 50 ha of former abandoned land; and
• Production of 37 970 kWh/year of renewable energy in in Águilas through various mitigation measures.

ECCA 2021 - Climate Adaptation solutions video - Life Adaptate