Life CityAdaP3, led by FMRM, will launch pilot actions in the urban environment in Alcantarilla, Molina, Lorquí and Reggio Emilia
The Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM) has held today, together with the partners of the European project Life City AdaP3, an event to recognize the more than 15 companies in the region that participate through CSR in the pilot actions that will be launched in the municipalities of Alcantarilla, Molina de Segura, Lorquí and Reggio Emilia. This project, financed by the European Commission through the LIFE Program and through public-private collaboration, through the Corporate Social Responsibility of local companies, has as its priority precisely the implementation of collaboration agreements to involve the private sector of the participating municipalities in the financing of actions to adapt to climate change.
In addition to the municipalities of the Murcia region already mentioned, the rest of the participants in this project are the University of Murcia, through its Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility, EuroVértice Consultores, and the Federation of Municipalities of the Murcia Region itself as project coordinator.
Pilot actions
Its budget is 2.302.509 euros, and it is co-financed by the European Union with 1.148.339 euros. LIFE CITYAdaP3 aims to improve adaptation to climate change in the urban environment by implementing local adaptation plans (PACES), within the framework of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. The participating municipalities, Molina de Segura, Alcantarilla and Lorquí, already have a climate change adaptation plan, and will therefore be able to carry out projects such as urban shading or a bicycle lane connecting the city centre with the industrial estate in the case of Alcantarilla, to encourage travel on foot and by bicycle and reduce pollution caused by vehicles.
For its part, the action proposed by Lorquí aims to strengthen the existing hills in the urban centre, through nature-based solutions, reducing the impact of runoff caused by torrential rains due to climate change. Molina de Segura also aims to be more resilient to these torrential rains by adapting an urban park, incorporating a sustainable drainage system that is capable of retaining water from floods caused by this type of increasingly frequent rain that so affects its urban centre.
The expected results of the implementation process of this pilot project are the signing of 12 public-private partnership agreements, the implementation of four pilot actions for urban adaptation to climate change, an investment of at least €50.000 from the private sector, the improvement of urban resilience in three municipalities in Spain and one municipality in Italy, and that this project offers a benefit to a population of 106.000 inhabitants.
But the project on paper has been surpassed, and 17 companies have now signed an agreement with this project to invest in works to adapt the participating municipalities to climate change.
The mayors
The mayors representing the municipalities participating in this project are clearly the most significant supporters of Life City Adap3. Joaquín Hernández, mayor of Lorquí, said that “my municipality is unique due to its topography and therefore the actions will focus on the hills and their cave houses, an element that identifies the town due to its historical importance and its landscape value. The hills of La Ermita, Scipión and Las Polacas have suffered a process of geological degradation that has led to the abandonment of homes in the area or the reduction of the quality of life of those who remain.” Therefore, the mayor adds, “the objective of the Lorquí pilot project is to stop this erosive process and implement nature-based solutions that mitigate this situation through the stabilization of slopes and the restoration of cave houses, to achieve an adaptation to the environment of our surroundings and recover an element so characteristic of our town.”
The Mayor of Alcantarilla, Joaquín Buendía, explained during his speech that, “the platform that we are going to launch in Alcantarilla is designed to take advantage of every drop of water that falls in the municipality, thanks to the drainage system, while increasing the green mass and promoting sustainable mobility.”
For his part, the councillor for Molina de Segura, Eliseo Cantó, commented that, “with the three projects we are developing in the municipality we want to contribute to shaping an ecological and sustainable city, raising awareness among our youngest residents, and connecting urban areas with the most avant-garde developments. We also offer recreational areas for Molina families.”
On the other hand, the president of the FMRM, and mayor of Bullas, Lola Muñoz, addressed the mayors and the more than 50 attendees at the event, and highlighted that, "the LifeCITYAdap3 project is not just a declaration of intent, it is a reflection of the commitment of the municipalism to move forward and offer citizens new ways to adapt to climate change in the urban environment, and my fellow mayors are a clear example of this, as they have made a great commitment to improve the quality of life of their neighbors, with avant-garde and powerful initiatives."
Businesses
All these business entities have been the protagonists of the event organized by the FMRM, together with the mayors of the municipalities, who have presented the actions that will be implemented in their towns. Joaquín Buendía, Eliseo Cantó and Joaquín Gomariz, councilors of Alcantarilla, Molina de Segura and Lorquí respectively. The Italian mayor, Reggio Emilia, has not been able to travel to the region due to the health crisis to take part in this event in person.
For their part, the companies have received recognition for their participation in this project, from the president of FMRM, Lola Muñoz, and the rest of the mayors and councillors of the municipalities participating in this Life project. The director of the CSR Chair, Longinos Marín, commented that “the business muscle provides a necessary strength to this project, with more than 130.000 euros already contributed by all the companies”.
Hidrogea, Plasbel, IFF, Asepio, Endeco, Copele, Acciona, Auxiliares Hermon, Grupo Gam, Serviman, Elsamex, Entorno Urbano, Eversia, Ribera Hospital de Molina, Azor Ambiental, Sercomosa and Trasporti Integrati e Logistica.
