What We Take Away from the 5th Annual Meeting citiES 2030 

On July 13 and 14, the Biodiversidad Foundation’s headquarters in Madrid hosted the fifth annual citiES 2030 conference. Over the course of two days, cities, public administrations, experts, and leading organizations shared experiences, discussed solutions, and made progress together on the urban climate transition, guided by a shared conviction: the transformation our communities need cannot wait, and it requires all stakeholders to work toward the same goal. 

The first day opened with a high-level institutional dialogue between the directors-general of Climate Change, Science and Innovation, and the Urban Agenda, which highlighted a fundamental point: no single sectoral policy can, on its own, transform a city. Coherence across scales and collaborative work are the starting point. Íñigo Losada, from the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics at the University of Cantabria, demonstrated the potential of the digital twin of the Spanish coastline (the Atalaya System) as a tool for anticipating risks and supporting science-based land-use management decisions. And Silvia Ghiretti, speaking from Brussels, gave us a glimpse into the upcoming 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework: with nearly two trillion euros allocated and at least 35% earmarked for climate projects, cities have a real window of opportunity, and now is the time to position themselves. The afternoon was devoted to exploring tools and methodologies for turning climate ambition into fundable projects, within the framework of the European Pathways2Resilience project . 

The second day focused on practical applications. The energy retrofit track, led by the URBANEW-EMC3 project, sent clear messages: the neighborhood scale is the most effective unit for intervention; the data exists, but it must be connected; and support for citizens—not regulations alone—is what ensures that retrofits truly reach those who need them most. Case studies from the Valladolid Subdelegation of Defense and Club Atlético de Madrid demonstrated that energy-efficient renovation is possible in very different contexts. Climate resilience and post-DANA reconstruction brought to the forefront the perspectives of regional governments and, above all, the mayors of Valencian municipalities who are turning a catastrophe into an opportunity to build their communities in a different way. Sustainable mobility concluded the morning session by asserting its role as a strategic tool for building healthier, more accessible, and more competitive cities, focusing the debate on the mechanisms needed to put these strategies into practice—ranging from financing and technological innovation to public-private partnerships and citizen participation.  

And then came the moment for the cities: the Operation citiES 2030: five cities, five minutes each, five projects, and the entire room serving as the jury. Chiclana presented the street-by-street transformation of its historic district (from a river of vehicles to a river of life) and won the award for the most replicable project. Madrid shared the Regenera Plan, a strategy for regenerating vulnerable neighborhoods built before 1985 that affects 2.6 million residents. Soria showcased the results of the BRERA project: 527,000 m² of new green spaces, 300 trees, and a network of biodiversity indicators open to the public. Valencia presented the Sustainable Valencia Forum (the “boring revolution”: more than 60 connected organizations, 15 working sessions, and a collaborative ecosystem) and received the award for the most innovative project. And Valladolid closed with the “fun revolution”: comedy and music festivals to bring the Mission’s goals closer to residents who would never attend a technical conference. The audience voted for its project as the highest-rated overall. 

The event concluded with a citizen participation workshop facilitated bySustainable Startup & Co, which highlighted something that is sometimes overlooked in technical debates: no climate transformation is sustainable if it does not involve those who live in and make up the cities. And the closing ceremony brought a very well-received surprise: Hugo Morán Fernández, Secretary of State for the Environment, closed the event with remarks that underscored the value of citiES 2030 as a space for transformation and the importance of what cities are building.  

We’re leaving with a clearer vision, renewed partnerships, and a roadmap that we’ll build together. See you next time. 

Download the updated program:

Monday, July 13

Tuesday, July 14

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The event is taking place at the Fundación Biodiversidad headquarters in Madrid.