The Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SE(A)CAP) Project has made significant progress in the field of sustainability. Recent events held in Barcelona, Valencia, and Alicante showcased the transformative results achieved by the project, highlighting both the progress made and future direction of this innovative initiative. The project’s primary focus is on the education and health sectors, integrating Mediterranean strategies to promote sustainable development within a smart society.
A pioneering contribution of the project is the innovative support mechanism designed for municipalities. This mechanism has been implemented in eight demonstration municipalities across Mediterranean regions, ensuring balanced representation between the northern and southern shores. Catalonia’s Lloret de Mar serves as a testament to this innovation, with a newly introduced Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEACAP) that incorporates up to 90 concrete, quantifiable climate change measures. These measures address both mitigation and adaptation strategies, targeting ambitious decarbonisation goals, including a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030, and aiming for total decarbonisation by 2050.
Recent meetings, led by Jordi Pascual and supported by Diana Zanabria and Jaume Salom from IREC’s Thermal Energy and Building Performance research group, provided an opportunity to review the project’s progress and discuss future plans. These discussions underscored IREC’s commitment to combating climate change through scientific innovation.
Highlights from these sessions included the introduction of Lloret de Mar’s new SEACAP by ERF, insights into the management of new SEACAPs by the Girona Provincial Council, and an overview of the decarbonisation plans for the economy by the Catalan Government’s Energy Catalan Institute. Further contributions from the Valencia Institute of Building (IVE) and Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis provided a broad perspective on the project’s impact and strategies in various regions.
The SEACAP4SDG Project serves as a spotlight for a cleaner, healthier environment, promoting sustainable development through actionable strategies aimed at decarbonisation. The project’s innovative approach empowers local authorities by ensuring a bottom-up approach that tailors decarbonisation strategies to local needs and capabilities.
The project sets a precedent for future research in other regions and industries, demonstrating the potential for the replicability and scalability of the developed strategies. The combined efforts of all partners, including IREC, have been instrumental in achieving this success, highlighting the critical role of scientific research and collaboration in accomplishing sustainable development goals and addressing climate change.
While IREC plays a significant role in this collaborative effort, the emphasis is on the collective endeavour to drive innovation for sustainable development. The project’s successes and future plans stand as a testament to the commitment of IREC and its partners to sustainable practices, signalling a promising future in our collective pursuit of a decarbonised society.
For more information, visit the SEACAP4SDG project website
This project has received the financial assistance of the European Union under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. The 2014-2020 ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme is a multilateral Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) initiative funded by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). The Programme objective is to foster fair, equitable and sustainable economic, social and territorial development, which may advance cross-border integration and valorise participating countries’ territories and values.
