Annual Meeting citiES 2030

Madrid | Fundación Biodiversidad

July 13–14, 2026

Integrating Missions: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Spanish Cities and Regions
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The fifth annual citiES 2030 conference will be held on July 13 and 14, 2026, at the Fundación Biodiversidad headquarters in Madrid.

Since 2022, this event has established itself as the premier annual gathering that serves as the backbone of the ecosystem of stakeholders involved in the Cities Mission in Spain. It offers a unique strategic opportunity for in-depth discussion, knowledge sharing, and networking among Spanish cities, government bodies (at the European, national, regional, and local levels), the private sector, the nonprofit sector, academia, and the general public.

Cities account for a significant portion of global emissions and, at the same time, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The 2026 edition—titled “Integrating Missions: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Spanish Cities”—addresses this dual challenge through an integrated approach, combining mitigation strategies aimed at reducing emissions with adaptation measures that enable cities to anticipate and respond effectively to climate risks, all in line with the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and European climate neutrality policies.

Through expert presentations, open discussions, case studies, and participatory workshops, the course provides sound principles and practical tools applicable to the real-world context of cities, inspiring urban transformation toward more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive models.

We look forward to seeing you! 

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    Monday, July 13

      Welcome and Official Opening
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      Speakers


      Elena Pita, Director General of the Spanish Office for Climate Change— Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

      Opening Dialogue. Cities and Regions in Transition: Aligning Climate Policy, Science, Innovation, and the Urban Agenda to Accelerate Urban and Regional Transformation.
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      Speakers


      • Elena Pita, Director General of the Spanish Office for Climate Change—Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
      • Elisa Rivera, Director General of Planning, Coordination, and Knowledge Transfer—Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.
      • María Teresa Verdú Martínez, Director General of Urban Planning and Architecture—Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
      Moderator: Ignacio Torres, Deputy Director of Biodiversity and Climate Change at the Biodiversity Foundation—Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
      Coastal Adaptation from a Multiscale Perspective and Opportunities Arising from the Digital Twin of the Spanish Coast
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      Speakers


      • Íñigo Losada, professor of hydraulic engineering at the University of Cantabria and director of research at the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics.
      Tools and Resources for Funding Missions
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      European Union Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034


      • Pirita Lindholm, director of the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN).

      Tools and Resources for Funding Missions


      • José Moisés Martín, Director General of the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI).
      Co-Governance of the Cities Mission: A Shared Strategy and Roadmap for the Next Cycle
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      A space for joint reflection among the cities in the platform on the status of implementation of the Climate Agreements, the challenges identified in the second iteration, emerging needs, and the platform’s strategic and methodological priorities for the coming period. The goal is to collaboratively develop a shared vision of the Mission’s governance model in Spain and the priorities for collective action to continue making progress during 2026–2027 toward climate neutrality by 2030.
      Workshop on funding for missions as part of the European Pathways2Resilience project
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      The session will focus on the fundamentals of adaptation financing, addressing current barriers and methodologies for improving the economic viability of projects.

      Facilitated by: Tecnalia and Climate-KIC.

      Tuesday, July 14

        Welcome to the second day and a review of the topics and conclusions from yesterday
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        Renovate to Accelerate: Energy Efficiency in the Decisive Phase Leading Up to 2030
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        Speakers


        Progress Report on the URBANEW Laboratory: Key Issues and Challenges in Transposing the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Requirement to Develop Heating and Cooling Plans


        • Ana Barroso Bosqued, technical secretary of the Spanish Network of Cities for Climate (RECC) – Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP).
        • Residential and Buildings Department of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Conservation (IDAE).
        • Beatriz García-Moncó, coordinator of the URBANEW EMC3 project and coordinator of the 2030 Urban Agenda and the Cities Mission, City of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
        • Víctor Viñuales, president of the Ecology and Development Foundation (ECODES).
        Moderator: Technical Secretariat for Mitigation.

        Case Studies in Rehabilitation


        • Ernesto Revilla, Defense Subdelegation in Castile and León.
        • Rocío Torres, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Business.
        • Rehabilitation at Club Atlético de Madrid.
        Moderator: Technical Secretariat for Mitigation.
        Urban Reconstruction and Climate Resilience: From Impact to Opportunity
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        Speakers


        Roundtable: Regional Dialogue on Sustainable Territorial Development: Climate Risks, the Urban Agenda, and Climate-Resilient Shelters


        • Juan Carlos Abascal, Deputy Minister for Territorial Planning and Urban Agenda of the Basque Government. Grant Program for the Design and Implementation of Urban Agendas in the Basque Autonomous Community.
        • Marc Vilahur, Director General of Environmental Policy for the Generalitat de Catalunya. Lessons Learned: A Climate-Stressed Region.
        • María López Sanchís, Secretary General for the Environment and Climate Change of the Regional Government of Andalusia.
        Moderator: Fundación Biodiversidad.

        Urban Planning and Innovation for Post-DANA Reconstruction: Urban Reconstruction Agendas and the Climate Resilience Working Group within the Innpulso Network


        • Valencia City Council.
        • Torrent City Council.
        • Riba-roja de Túria City Council.
        • Alzira City Council.
        Moderator: Red Innpulso.
        Urban mobility as the backbone of the city model
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        Speakers


        Roundtable: New Opportunities Arising from the Sustainable Mobility Act and FECMO Funds, Implementation of Mobility Capabilities and Services


        • Lucía Martínez Riveiro, Director General of Mobility Strategies, Ministry of Transportation and Sustainable Mobility.
        • Isabel del Olmo, head of the Sustainable Mobility Department at the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).
        • Smart Cities Manager - Iberdrola.
        Moderator: Technical Secretariat for Adaptation.

        Spaces for Experimentation in Urban Mobility (EDIM)


        • Iñigo Bilbao, director of the Mobility Lab Vitoria-Gasteiz Foundation.
        • A public or private entity working within the framework of the Mobility Lab.
        Moderator: Beatriz García-Moncó, Coordinator of the URBANEW EMC3 project and coordinator of the 2030 Urban Agenda and the Cities Mission, City of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
        Animation and engagement activities
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        Engaging the Community: Workshop on Climate Participation and Communication
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          The event is taking place at the Fundación Biodiversidad headquarters in Madrid.

          2026 Annual Meeting

          Integrating Missions: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Spanish Cities