The municipality of Calpe has today taken a firm step forward in its commitment to sustainability and climate resilience by officially receiving the certificate for the verification of its Climate Change Adaptation Plan in accordance with the international standard UNE-ISO 14092:2021. This standard establishes the requirements for local authorities to effectively plan their response to the effects of climate change.
The presentation took place during the 4th #goCalpee Conference, organised by the Calpe Observatory for Resilient and Sustainable Cities, at the iconic Casa Nova. The event brought together experts in urban planning, sustainability, coastal management and climate innovation to discuss the challenges facing cities in a context of increasing environmental vulnerability.
During the event, Mayor Ana Sala emphasised that ‘we at the Town Council are very proud to be part of this initiative and to promote forums where measures that can contribute to improving the resilience of our cities to climate change are discussed’. She also expressed her satisfaction with the certification received by Calpe's Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
The technical development of the plan was carried out by GO2, a strategic consultancy firm belonging to the Global Omnium group. Its director, Juan Luis Pozo, highlighted during the event that ‘Calpe is the first European municipality to obtain certification, which endorses the quality and robustness of its climate planning’. He added that these plans have become ‘a necessary tool to prepare municipalities for the challenges of climate change’.
The certificate was awarded by Bureau Veritas, an international reference entity in inspection, conformity verification and certification services, among others, which has validated that Calpe's plan complies with all the standards established in the ISO 14092 standard.
Calpe's Climate Change Adaptation Plan analyses the specific climate risks affecting the municipality, such as rising extreme temperatures, torrential rainfall, droughts and coastal erosion, and proposes concrete measures to reduce its vulnerability. It includes actions on urban planning, the water cycle, energy, natural spaces and local governance.
The IV #goCalpee Conference featured speakers such as Juan Manuel del Pino (First Deputy Mayor of Calpe Town Council), Jorge Olcina (Professor at the University of Alicante), Celsa Monrós (Climate Innovation Specialist - Climate KIC), Marc García (Director General of Coasts, Ports and Airports - Valencian Regional Government) and Nathalie Gidrón (Architect and Landscape Designer at SingularGreen). Participants discussed how to adapt coastal cities, the need to redesign urban infrastructure inherited from the 20th century and the value of collaboration between public administrations and the private sector.
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the report ‘The state of CO₂ emissions in the world. Year 2023’, by Elvira Carles, director of the Business and Climate Foundation.
This internationally recognised document provides an updated diagnosis of the evolution of greenhouse gas emissions at global, regional and national levels. Carles pointed out that ‘the global trend remains negative, unlike in the EU, where emission levels have fallen’. She highlighted the figures for the Valencian Community, where there are 103 industrial facilities — including cement factories, tile factories, paper mills and power plants — subject to the European Emissions Trading Directive, which requires them to calculate and reduce their emissions. These represent 15.9% of all those included in the system in Spain and yet only generate 7.3% of the country's total emissions.
The conference concluded with the official presentation of the ISO 14092 certificate to Calpe Town Council, reinforcing its position as a leading municipality in climate planning within the Mediterranean arc.
The event closed with a common idea: resilience begins at the local level, and Calpe has proven itself equal to the challenge.