7 May 2026From April 21–23, we participated in an international meeting of LIFE projects in Bilbao—the LIFE Platform Meeting on Climate Strategic Integrated Projects. The event brought together representatives of 24 strategic and integrated LIFE projects being implemented across Europe, dedicated to actions aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and adapting to them. The meeting was hosted by the Basque LIFE Urban Klima 2050 project.
The purpose of the event was to exchange experiences, present progress on ongoing projects, and discuss the effective implementation of climate policy at the regional and local levels. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the financing of climate action, institutional capacity building, and the engagement of stakeholders and residents in the transition process.
On the first day, following the official opening by representatives of the European Commission and CINEA, a panel discussion was held on management, fundraising, and capacity building. We then participated in thematic workshops in smaller working groups, during which we shared our experiences regarding:
- multi-level governance and the mainstreaming of climate policy into public action,
- increasing the impact of projects through funding, replication, and the use of matching funds,
- capacity building, training, and stakeholder engagement—challenges and best practices.
On the second day, participants visited sites where the Basque LIFE Urban Klima 2050 project is being implemented, showcasing practical examples of nature-based solutions and the adaptation of cities and regions to climate change. The program included study visits to, among other places, the Tonpoi area in Bermeo, where a socio-environmental revitalization of the site is underway, as well as to Bakio, where flood prevention measures based on natural risk management were presented.
At the Ekoetxea Urdaibai environmental center, located within the Basque Country’s only UNESCO biosphere reserve, we presented the LIFE AFTER COAL PL project and had the opportunity to learn more about the activities carried out by other LIFE projects from various European countries. The visit program concluded in Bilbao, where initiatives integrating nature-based solutions with urban planning and the adaptation of urban spaces to climate change were presented.
The final day of the event was devoted to further workshop sessions on:
- multi-level governance and the integration of climate policy,
- Climate transition financing, scaling up initiatives, and complementary funds—our project colleague Jacek Willecki opened the session, once again outlining the goals and challenges of the LIFE AFTER COAL PL project,
- skills development, training, and stakeholder engagement.
The event concluded with an open discussion on further cooperation between the projects and the future of European climate action.
Participating in the LIFE Platform Meeting was a valuable opportunity for us to exchange experiences with partners from across Europe, learn about practical examples of adaptation and climate action, and establish new contacts with representatives of strategic LIFE projects being implemented in various regions of the European Union.
7 May 2026