Life CityAdaP3 is already an example of public-private collaboration mechanisms that have made it possible to carry out pilot actions in these municipalities.
The project led by the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM) on adaptation to climate change and funded by the European Union, involving the municipalities of Alcantarilla, Lorquí, Molina de Segura and the Italian Reggio Emilia, the Chair of CSR at the University of Murcia and Eurovértice Consultants, has been presented at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels, with the presence of mayors, councillors and technical specialists in environmental matters. In addition, among the speakers at the event were members of the European Commission, such as Mirjam Witschke, CINEA Project Advisor, and the Member of the European Parliament, Marcos Ros.
The event, framed in the European Week of Regions and Cities, was divided into three parts, the first one to explain what the pilot actions consist of, as well as the public-private collaboration between local companies and the public administration, addressed respectively by Marta Reguilón from Eurovértice, and María Dolores Abellán from the Chair of CSR of the UM; the second, a round table formed by the technicians in charge of these pilot actions in the municipalities, and the third and last, another round table whose protagonists were the political representatives of the municipalities that make up LIFE City AdaP3, together with Beniel, the winning municipality of the competition arising from this project, the president of the FMRM, María Dolores Muñoz, the mayor of Lorquí, Joaquín Hernández, the mayoress of Beniel, Mari Carmen Morales and the councillors of the town councils of Alcantarilla, Molina, and Reggio Emilia, José Antonio López Olmedo, Antonio Martínez and Carlota Bonvinici, respectively, and the councillor of Las Torres de Cotillas, Manuel García, who attended the event interested in the replication.
This event is a milestone for LIFE City AdaP3, as the secretary general of the FMRM Manuel Pato assures: "Having the opportunity to tell Brussels about the progress and results of this climate adaptation project being developed in three municipalities in Murcia and one in Italy is an achievement for the team, and a great satisfaction for the Federation of Municipalities, which has among its goals to try to involve all towns and cities in the region in at least one project of this kind through the federation to accompany them in the transformation, so that they can be an example of sustainability".
This presentation was chaired by María Dolores Muñoz, current president of the FMRM. During her speech she explained that "The administrations have the obligation to set an example in the development of initiatives that improve people's quality of life, and to respond to the changes that society must undertake to improve the systems.
In addition, the Mayoress of Bullas also emphasised what is considered a key factor and innovation of the project: "the role of the private sector is fundamental and, therefore, it must establish a synergy with the public administrations to achieve the proposed objectives, which is a challenge".
For this reason, Muñoz thanked all the local companies that are accompanying the city councils and organisations that make up CityAdaP3 on this path towards Europe, and assured that, "without this public-private collaboration it would not be possible for this project to be considered a success. Without a doubt, they are an additional partner".
After the event, the LIFE City AdaP3 group visited the European Parliament on this first day in Brussels, which has been of great help to the municipalities, because they have had the opportunity to make contacts, and to know from closer the epicentre of the place that makes possible that towns and cities are transforming little by little.
The pilot actions
Alcantarilla: Multimodal platform adapted to climate change
The pilot action in Alcantarilla consists of the design of a multimodal pedestrian and cyclist platform, adapted to climate change, and its implementation in the priority axis of the future basic network of sustainable mobility, pedestrian/cyclist, connecting the nerve centre of the municipality (Plaza Adolfo Suarez) with the West Industrial Park (P.I.O.), being executed as a first development of the same, a section of approximately 600 m. The council, led by Mayor Joaquín Buendía and the entire team of the Local Development Agency, has successfully completed this pilot project and is now planning to present it to its neighbours.
Lorquí: Rehabilitation of the cabezos
The pilot action in Lorquí consists of applying different innovative solutions in the Ermita-Scipión hill to mitigate its erosion. This will consist of reinforcing the cabezos through walls and nature-based solutions to prevent landslides. Also to reinforce the cave houses to contain the cabezos to prevent landslides, to stabilise the slopes by means of geocells and to install wooden pergolas.
In the case of Lorquí, all the works that make up this action have also come to an end, with the planting of trees and plants still pending, as those in charge of the action have decided to skip the summer season to prevent the high temperatures from drying out these species.
Molina de Segura: 4 actions for Adapting to Climate Change
1. Creation of a bioclimatic classroom. This is a floating building, to allow the filtration of rainwater and the permeability of the land.
2. Study of alternatives for the definition and signposting of a sustainable urban pathway, as a friendly route connecting green zones.
3. Adaptation to climate change of the Nelson Mandela Park.
4. Information campaign, environmental interpretation and citizen participation.
In the case of Molina, and due to the current situation of the price of materials and the complicated task of awarding public contracts due to the scarcity of interested companies, it has not been possible to begin work on the bioclimatic classroom.
Reggio Emilia: Reforestation of parks to mitigate heat island effect
Its pilot action consists of the reforestation of public parks in urban and peri-urban areas using an adaptive park model to counteract the phenomenon of heat islands.
Through the planting of some 2,800 trees, the usability of the parks will be improved, in particular children's play areas, benches and dog runs. More than 1,200 citizens will benefit from the actions.
The Italian partners and colleagues have completed the reforestation of the parks, pending the implementation of measurement systems to monitor the action and replanting of some species that have not withstood the harsh summer. Reggio Emilia is one step ahead in the dissemination of its project among the different local interest groups in the city.
The partner companies
*Alcantarilla: Asepio, Hidrogea, Copele, Endeco, Plasbel, Azud, Olon Derivados Químicos, Nutrafur
*Lorquí: Acciona, Actúa, Grupo Gam, Elsamex, Auxiliares Hermon S.L., Serviman, Ceico, Imacapi, Viriato Seguridad, Ítem Conulting.
*Molina de Segura: Sercomosa, Ribera Hostipal de Molina, Eversia, Auxiliar Conservera, Soltec, Azor Ambiental.
*Reggio Emilia: TIL (Transporti Integrati E Logística S.R.L.), L’ovile Cooperativa di Solidarieta’Sociale S.R.L.