‘Waste: we do not want to see it, but it is here’ Iñaki Susaeta, an environmental technician at IHOBE, the Basque Government’s environmental management agency, thus started his talk at the Donostia Sustainability Forum. In a world flooded with statistics, Susaeta proposed a change of strategy: ‘for the narrative to try to kill the data’. The aim is to avoid cold figures to address the root of the problem: our relationship with objects and hidden cost of our development.

‘Waste: we do not want to see it, but it is here’ Iñaki Susaeta, an environmental technician at IHOBE, the Basque Government’s environmental management agency, thus started his talk at the Donostia Sustainability Forum. In a world flooded with statistics, Susaeta proposed a change of strategy: ‘for the narrative to try to kill the data’. The aim is to avoid cold figures to address the root of the problem: our relationship with objects and hidden cost of our development.

Monitoring marine mammals through stranded animal networks in the United Kingdom has become a key tool for advancing conservation policies and improving marine management. This was explained by Rebecca von Hellfeld at the conference held as part of the Donostia Sustainability Forum, where she detailed how data collected through the CSIP and SMASS programmes have helped strengthen wildlife protection and guide evidence-based decision-making, in a model that can be replicated globally. Von Hellfeld is a researcher at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland). She holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and Business Management from the University of London, an Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Environment and Marine Resources from EHU, and a PhD from Heidelberg University.

Monitoring marine mammals through stranded animal networks in the United Kingdom has become a key tool for advancing conservation policies and improving marine management. This was explained by Rebecca von Hellfeld at the conference held as part of the Donostia Sustainability Forum, where she detailed how data collected through the CSIP and SMASS programmes have helped strengthen wildlife protection and guide evidence-based decision-making, in a model that can be replicated globally. Von Hellfeld is a researcher at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland). She holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and Business Management from the University of London, an Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Environment and Marine Resources from EHU, and a PhD from Heidelberg University.

The current urban model is facing a major challenge. Cities are not only the main climate change scenarios, but are also major greenhouse gas emitters. The urban ecologist Salvador Rueda, President and Director of the Urban and Territorial Ecology Foundation, introduced the ecosystemic urbanism concept, which puts forward a comprehensive model designed to transform cities into resilient climate change scenarios and to return the public space to citizens.

The current urban model is facing a major challenge. Cities are not only the main climate change scenarios, but are also major greenhouse gas emitters. The urban ecologist Salvador Rueda, President and Director of the Urban and Territorial Ecology Foundation, introduced the ecosystemic urbanism concept, which puts forward a comprehensive model designed to transform cities into resilient climate change scenarios and to return the public space to citizens.

The recent Conference of the Parties (COP30), held in Belem (Brazil) on the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, ended with a series of decisions that show the persistence of the multilateral process defining these climate summits, despite the desired ambition not being achieved. At the Donostia Sustainability Forum, Mª José Sanz, the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), explained that progress had been made regarding aspects such as climate finance and protecting tropical forests, in spite of the extremely complex geopolitical context, characterised by a global ‘polycrisis’.

The recent Conference of the Parties (COP30), held in Belem (Brazil) on the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, ended with a series of decisions that show the persistence of the multilateral process defining these climate summits, despite the desired ambition not being achieved. At the Donostia Sustainability Forum, Mª José Sanz, the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), explained that progress had been made regarding aspects such as climate finance and protecting tropical forests, in spite of the extremely complex geopolitical context, characterised by a global ‘polycrisis’.

In 2024, the European Court of Human Rights found in favour of KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz, a group of Swiss women aged 65 and over, in the case they brought against the Swiss government, accusing the latter of failing to act against climate change. The group argued that that the country’s government had not adopted sufficient measures to offset climate change, thus violating the human rights of older women, a group particularly vulnerable to heat waves.

In 2024, the European Court of Human Rights found in favour of KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz, a group of Swiss women aged 65 and over, in the case they brought against the Swiss government, accusing the latter of failing to act against climate change. The group argued that that the country’s government had not adopted sufficient measures to offset climate change, thus violating the human rights of older women, a group particularly vulnerable to heat waves.

Building and urban planning are at a crossroads in a global crisis and which requires their model to be totally overhauled, as the architect Bruno Sauer, CEO of Green Building Council España (GBCE), explained during a talk at the Donostia Sustainability Forum; when he analysed the role that sustainable architecture must play as a driver for change in the face of the social and environmental challenges.

Building and urban planning are at a crossroads in a global crisis and which requires their model to be totally overhauled, as the architect Bruno Sauer, CEO of Green Building Council España (GBCE), explained during a talk at the Donostia Sustainability Forum; when he analysed the role that sustainable architecture must play as a driver for change in the face of the social and environmental challenges.

Manu Soto Lopez is Professor of Cell Biology, director of Plentiza Marine Station and head of the Basque Cetacean Strandings Network, and monitors the routes of sea turtles as well; he gave detailed explanations of his work, but in a way that everybody could understand. In fact, he stressed right from the start that one of his goals is for people to know what – and what not – to do if they come across a stranding.

Manu Soto Lopez is Professor of Cell Biology, director of Plentiza Marine Station and head of the Basque Cetacean Strandings Network, and monitors the routes of sea turtles as well; he gave detailed explanations of his work, but in a way that everybody could understand. In fact, he stressed right from the start that one of his goals is for people to know what – and what not – to do if they come across a stranding.

This paper-colloquium analysed the importance of mountain glaciers, with particular emphasis on their role as sensitive indicators of climate change. Furthermore, the United Nations has declared 2025 to be the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation; therefore, Eñaut Izagirre proposed to listeners a transnational collective journey: from the large frozen regions of Patagonia and Alaska, to the last small glaciers of the Pyrenees.

This paper-colloquium analysed the importance of mountain glaciers, with particular emphasis on their role as sensitive indicators of climate change. Furthermore, the United Nations has declared 2025 to be the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation; therefore, Eñaut Izagirre proposed to listeners a transnational collective journey: from the large frozen regions of Patagonia and Alaska, to the last small glaciers of the Pyrenees.

COP29, held in Azerbaijan in November 2024, managed to establish a new climate finance goal, as the main outcome, and to reach breakthroughs on the carbon markets, as María José Sanz, the Scientific Director of BC3, Basque Centre for Climate Change, explained. Furthermore, progress was made as far as possible on the Global Goal on Adaptation and on the Gender Agenda.

COP29, held in Azerbaijan in November 2024, managed to establish a new climate finance goal, as the main outcome, and to reach breakthroughs on the carbon markets, as María José Sanz, the Scientific Director of BC3, Basque Centre for Climate Change, explained. Furthermore, progress was made as far as possible on the Global Goal on Adaptation and on the Gender Agenda.

'The decisions adopted by those of us alive today may affect the life and rights of the people yet to be born in the coming years, decades or even centuries," explained Manuel Castañón del Valle, a lawyer specialised in Environmental Law during his talk on "Environmental Protection of Future Generations. A Necessary Basis for International Law", given at the Donostia Sustainability Forum, in conjunction with the Basque-Navarre Institute of Architects (COAVN).

'The decisions adopted by those of us alive today may affect the life and rights of the people yet to be born in the coming years, decades or even centuries," explained Manuel Castañón del Valle, a lawyer specialised in Environmental Law during his talk on "Environmental Protection of Future Generations. A Necessary Basis for International Law", given at the Donostia Sustainability Forum, in conjunction with the Basque-Navarre Institute of Architects (COAVN).

This was stated by the paediatrician, specialist in epidemiology and director general of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, at the presentation of his talk ‘Climate emergency and global paediatric health’, within the framework of the Donostia Sustainability Forum.

This was stated by the paediatrician, specialist in epidemiology and director general of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, at the presentation of his talk ‘Climate emergency and global paediatric health’, within the framework of the Donostia Sustainability Forum.

The heat waves recorded in recent years have raised the issue of the pressing need to adapt to the new environmental conditions imposed by climate change. High temperatures particularly impact people who are vulnerable due to their age, those with pre-existing conditions or, in the case of heatstroke, people who work outside at the hottest time of the day. Heat waves thus lead to excess deaths and an increase in hospital admissions.

The heat waves recorded in recent years have raised the issue of the pressing need to adapt to the new environmental conditions imposed by climate change. High temperatures particularly impact people who are vulnerable due to their age, those with pre-existing conditions or, in the case of heatstroke, people who work outside at the hottest time of the day. Heat waves thus lead to excess deaths and an increase in hospital admissions.

A free summer course on researching, resources and the health of the marine environment will be held in parallel on 3 and 4 July.

A free summer course on researching, resources and the health of the marine environment will be held in parallel on 3 and 4 July.

A goal without a plan is just a wish; such an ambitious goal as the green transition defined by the European Green Deal needs financing that is up to the task. During a seminar of the Donostia Sustainability Forum, the economist Esther Badiola, senior adviser of the Climate Change Office in the EIB Operations Department, went over the key role that the institution is playing in the transition towards a sustainable economy.

A goal without a plan is just a wish; such an ambitious goal as the green transition defined by the European Green Deal needs financing that is up to the task. During a seminar of the Donostia Sustainability Forum, the economist Esther Badiola, senior adviser of the Climate Change Office in the EIB Operations Department, went over the key role that the institution is playing in the transition towards a sustainable economy.

Researchers Marta Olazabal and Marcelle Mardon participated in the public event Cities in a changing climate, organised by the Donostia Sustainability Forum. During the dialogue, the experts shared some of the main challenges that cities face in the context of climate change and increasing urbanisation processes. They also highlighted some of the opportunities offered by decarbonisation and adaptation policies in cities.

Researchers Marta Olazabal and Marcelle Mardon participated in the public event Cities in a changing climate, organised by the Donostia Sustainability Forum. During the dialogue, the experts shared some of the main challenges that cities face in the context of climate change and increasing urbanisation processes. They also highlighted some of the opportunities offered by decarbonisation and adaptation policies in cities.

The scientific director of the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) explained that the text approved there is equally good and bad for everyone.

The scientific director of the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) explained that the text approved there is equally good and bad for everyone.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, Elhuyar has carried out work on sustainability and the climate emergency in collaboration with the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. As a result, the brochure "Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth" was created. It presents some key insights and projects for addressing sustainability in the classroom. On November 3rd, it was introduced during the roundtable discussion "Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth."

During the 2022-2023 academic year, Elhuyar has carried out work on sustainability and the climate emergency in collaboration with the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. As a result, the brochure "Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth" was created. It presents some key insights and projects for addressing sustainability in the classroom. On November 3rd, it was introduced during the roundtable discussion "Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth."