LIFE GOOD LOCAL ADAPT

European cities are highly vulnerable to both current climate variability and future climate change. According to the European Environment Agency, European cities will experience increased levels of heat, flooding, water scarcity and droughts. LIFE GOOD LOCAL ADAPT project focuses on the adaptive capacity of small- and medium-size cities in the Basque region, mainly related to urban design and based on stakeholder and residents’ participation and inputs to challenges faced in the selected urban areas regarding heat and water scarcity. The project will also anticipate and consider future potential impacts in the Basque region, such as droughts, and will focus on more efficient management of water resources.

The main aim of the LIFE GOOD LOCAL ADAPT project is to adopt sustainable solutions for urban areas for adapting to heat waves and water scarcity. The project encourages complementarity between public and private initiatives in small- and medium-size municipalities that are less advanced in terms of mainstreaming adaptation into their policies. The project promotes the adoption of innovative technologies and traditional solutions that contribute to mitigating the effects of heat and an adapted management of water resources.

Specific objectives are to:

• Increase the public’s knowledge of climate change issues, risks and behaviours, and public support for adaptation measures in urban areas, especially those that offer the most effective incentives to foster individual action.
• Tailor priority methodologies to the available resources of small and medium-sized municipalities in order to foster the adoption of adaptation solutions that are socially acceptable, economically sustainable, avoid collateral impacts and promote social, economic and environmental benefits.
• Implement adaptation solutions for the efficient use of water, vegetation, insulation and ventilation.
• Transfer the project approach, process and outputs to municipalities throughout the EU.
• Assess the impact of the adaptation solutions on local communities.

Expected results:

• Best measures for adapting to climate change threats in each of the five demonstration neighbourhoods identified (two in Amurrio, two in Legazpi and one in Balmaseda) along with the implementation of those solutions in two prototype pilot sites (one in Amurrio and one in Balmaseda).
• Customised solutions for the seven sites outlined in project sheets, including technical data about the solutions convenient and ideal locations for implementation.
• A prototype of green infrastructure implemented in Amurrio in an urban public space, including solutions for vegetation and water management, allowing water savings in the irrigation process, energy savings in houses protected from heat by the vegetation, and absorption of CO2 by the vegetation.
• A prototype of a rehabilitated building in Balmaseda that included five innovative solutions to face heatwaves in an efficient way (This will constitute a benchmark visit centre for citizens and public authorities, and will drive awareness-raising on the project and replication of solutions long after the end of the project).
• Theoretical testing of the incentive model by the city council of Legazpi, through a questionnaire and a focus group of local citizens, as developed in the neighbourhoods of Amurrio, Balmaseda and Legazpi, in relation to the most important incentives for fostering individual or private action.
• A reduction of 55- 65% in greenhouse gas emissions and of 1-5% in air pollutant emissions.
• A reduction of 1-2°C in urban temperature.
• A reduction in water consumption resulting in annual savings of 250-770 m3; and
• A reduction in energy consumption of 6.5%, and a 30% shift in energy source to renewables.