The San Antonio University Foundation (UCAM) has completed the project “Adaptation to climate change through methods and measures based on natural, eco-efficient and circular economy solutions to be incorporated into the environmental assessment procedures established by Law 21/2013”. This has allowed, thanks to the environmental assessment procedures carried out, the preparation of dissemination material to improve action plans, with regard to the low-carbon economy and adaptation to climate change.

The San Antonio University Foundation (UCAM) was a beneficiary in the 2017 Call for Grants of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition. “Adaptation to climate change through methods and measures based on natural, eco-efficient and circular economy solutions to be incorporated into the environmental assessment procedures established by Law 21/2013” has encompassed projects in the field of adaptation to climate change. The objective has focused on optimising the possibilities offered by the legal obligation to integrate climate change into environmental assessment procedures. It has made it possible to improve knowledge about the methods to be used and the measures available for the different sectors and activities, from eco-efficiency and the circular economy.

The obligation to take climate change into account in the environmental assessment procedure regulated by Law 21/2013 is one of the most appropriate ways to achieve early integration of climate change adaptation and mitigation into new plans and projects. However, in the professional sectors there is a certain lack of knowledge about the scope of the requirements of this Law, the methods to be used and, especially, in the consideration of the measures.

On the basis of an inventory of scientific and technical results and two high-level seminars, it has been possible to develop documents containing guidelines and guides for the integration of climate change into environmental assessment. Likewise, for the strengthening of technical capacities and dissemination, a training syllabus has been developed with 8 online topics and an exhibition made up of 10 downloadable and self-editing panels.

This material can be consulted on the official website of the project. In doing so, they seek to contribute, taking advantage of the environmental assessment procedure, to new plans and projects starting the path towards the low-carbon economy and adaptation. The material developed includes:

• The main concepts associated with climate change and environmental assessment.

• The tools for predicting future climate scenarios and mean sea level rise.

• The emission reduction obligations established by the European Union for Spain and other recommendations of interest for mitigation and adaptation.

• The methods for calculating the loss of carbon retained in soil and vegetation (CO2 sink capacity) that would be involved in the implementation of a plan or project.

• The methods for calculating the emissions associated with a plan or project.

• Compensation for emissions from works, operation and destruction of CO2 sink capacity.

• The specific measures and obligations that, for the integration of climate change, are being established in the resolutions of the environmental assessment procedure by the Environmental Body of the Region of Murcia.

Although the project pays special attention to the characteristics of the Spanish Levante (Region of Murcia and Provinces of Alicante), the methods, tools and measures selected are perfectly applicable to the country as a whole.