To facilitate data collection, the CDP form has sub-sections within the main ones. Specifically, the Basque Country reported in the sub-sections for climate action, climate risk and adaptation actions, forestry regulations and implementation, emissions reduction, energy, governance, regional projects in search of financing, data on greenhouse gases emissions and water security.

The report published in 2021, in which 96 regions reported actions, shows that 82% of regions recognise having faced climate risks. However, the mitigation and adaptation plans do not appear to have grown greatly compared to previous years. Only 50% of the regions report having developed mitigation plans and 47% for adaptation; this last figure is an increase of only 2% compared to 2020.

On the positive side, an increase of almost 10% is seen in regions developing action plans against climate change in collaboration with national governments, reaching 94%.

Best practices

One of the opportunities detected in the report prepared by the Basque Country concerns the work undertaken by the Basque network of sustainable municipalities – Udalsarea 2030. Within the framework of this network, in 2020 65 Basque municipalities assessed and monitored their local sustainability plans and their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, measuring their CO2 emissions inventory.

Notable among the best practices identified are the 30 Basque municipalities already developing climate and energy plans

In addition, last year 50 Udalsarea municipalities 2030 took first steps towards the Agenda Local 2030, 15 municipalities had a plan for adapting to climate change, 19 municipalities had mitigation plans and throughout 2021 some 30 local councils were developing climate and energy plans, integrating into them both mitigation and adaptation to the effects of climate change for their municipalities.

About the CDP

The CDP is an international non-profit organisation that maintains the world's largest database on the behaviour of companies and cities in climate matters. For more than 20 years it has been disseminating climate impacts, originally for companies only, that has developed to report the impacts of cities, states and regions.

Currently, 96 regions in the world report their environmental data to the CDP, one of these being the Basque Country.