Climate change is the most serious environmental problem facing humanity and, aware of how important it is to join the fight against this phenomenon, Cantabria makes its contribution to the common effort by laying down its actions for the fight against climate change in a strategic framework. Said strategy was drawn up after a lengthy process of participation and contains a large number and wide variety of actions organised into a set of strategic approaches.
 
The Cantabrian strategy is based on the fact that efforts must be made to reduce climate change, but on the premise whereby the consequences of an increase in greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere are unavoidable.

Accordingly, the framework of adaptation to climate change is a fundamental part of Cantabrian policies in the fight against climate change and its aim is to contribute to sustainable development in our autonomous community.

Owing to their geographical location, insularity and biodiversity, the Canary Islands are particularly vulnerable to current and future effects of climate change on their natural, social and economic systems.

In recent decades, events related to climate change have been observed in the Canary Islands, such as changes to the frequency of cloudy days, the increase in the number of days on which air from the Sahara has reached the islands, the reduction of rainfall in November, more frequent heatwaves, higher sea and night-time temperatures, with consequences that affect tropical pests and diseases, jellyfish invasions and changing migration routes for marine species, etc.

As a result of its insularity, the autonomous community of the Canary Islands is at special risk since its economy is based mainly on tourism, which draws its attraction from the local coastal and mountain landscapes, climates, beaches and leisure options.

Accordingly, the efforts required to adapt to climate change on these islands must help reduce or eliminate adverse effects on the environment and society, as provided in the commitments included in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Insularity and the peculiar features of the Mediterranean make the Balearic Islands a region that is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The data observed over the last 30 years show general increases in temperatures and a decrease in total annual precipitation. Furthermore, the regionalisation of climatic forecasts in the Balearic Islands show results that are coherent with those observed and greater increases in temperatures are expected over the coming decades. Precipitation results are not as conclusive, but there are falls in levels that may be considerable.

The fact that it is a limited territory means that room for manoeuvre is also limited. Consequently, in order to respond to the greatest possible number of uncertainties, the Government of the Balearic Islands has drawn up the Balearic Climate Change Strategy 2013-2020. One of the milestones in the strategy is adaptation to climate change and the definition of targets that include a focus on research to increase knowledge about other effects of climate change (extreme meteorological phenomena, invasive species, water resources, etc.) and include adaptation to climate change in regional policy. These objectives are implemented through specific actions that include the preparation of an action plan and sector vulnerability reports, etc.

The Principality of Asturias is characterised as a coastal-mountain region on middle latitudes, a circumstance that significantly affects its climate. Accordingly, climate change has significant effects on the physical and biological systems associated with said unique circumstance.

There is much evidence to show that the climate is changing in this region, affecting its biodiversity, forests and farming, coasts, oceans and water resources. The changes that have been observed have been included in the document titled Evidence and Potential Effects of climate change in Asturias, drawn up by a panel of experts from different areas of research and knowledge.

Accordingly and by way of example, special mention can be made of an average increase in atmospheric temperature of 0.21°C per decade since the 1960s; over the last 20 years, the average temperature of seawater has constantly increased by more than 0.3°C per decade. Furthermore, sea levels have increased at a rate of approximately 3 mm per year.

The impact of these climate changes has a special effect on the more vulnerable terrestrial and marine ecosystems that are characteristic of our region, such as the animal and plant life typical of our mountain areas and the extensive planktonic and coastal biodiversity associated with Asturias.

The forecasts based on climate models drawn up according to the time variations of different variables, included in the Analysis of Climate Change Scenarios in Asturias, predict the displacement of certain species to higher altitudes and more northern latitudes, early blossoming in spring and more pests and biological invasions, the reduction of fishing resources and coastal species, an increase in flood levels and the backward movement of the coastline. It is also expected that climate change will threaten species in danger of extinction.

Knowledge of the main effects of climate change in the Principality of Asturias have led to research and knowledge aimed at strengthening lines of action in this area, basically focusing actions on reducing the vulnerability of natural systems. This has led to the recuperation of endangered animal and plant species and the elimination of invasive pests and plants, fire-prevention strategies and the conservation of coastal areas. These lines must remain part of the future development of plans, programmes and strategies for adaptation to climate change, with special reference to the coast and poor areas, incorporating the climate variable in territorial planning and sector policies.

The Aragonese Climate Change Strategy - Horizon 2030 (EACC 2030), approved in the Government Council of February 12, 2019 (BOA of March 19, 2019), is the result of the commitment of the Government of Aragon to the challenges introduced by the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, both promoted by the United Nations. This strategy constitutes the referential framework in Aragon for the development of public policies and the necessary measures, within the Horizon 2030 framework, for the mitigation of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and adaptation to climate change in the activities developed in our territory.

In order to reinforce the commitment of the Government of Aragon on climate change, the Government Council of Aragon approves on December 3, 2019, the Institutional Declaration of the Government of Aragon on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (BOA of January 14, 2020), in line with those approved in the Congress and the European Parliament. The Government of Aragon, through this declaration, is committed to working to reverse climate change in a transversal approach in all areas of activity, so it is essential that each body of the Autonomous Community establishes climate action measures to achieve the objectives set out in the Aragonese Climate Change Strategy.

In terms of governance, we have the Interdepartmental Commission on Climate Change of the Government of Aragon, an advisory and interdepartmental coordination body on climate change of the Government of Aragon, attached to the Department of the Government of Aragon with competences on climate change, in addition to the Aragon Climate Council, a consultative and advisory body of the Government of Aragon to strengthen climate change governance, promote climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in the Autonomous Community of Aragon, as well as the monitoring of the Aragon Climate Change Strategy - Horizon 2030 (EACC-2030).

Regions located in areas under the influence of both the Atlantic and Mediterranean climates are subject to great uncertainty in terms of climate development, especially the evolution of temperatures and precipitation levels, as well as the resulting availability of water.

Consequently, in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, almost every business and natural sector (ecosystems, forestry, water resources, tourism, territorial planning and urbanism, housing, energy, civil protection, agriculture, cattle farming and health) may be affected by the evolution of the climate over the coming decades and, accordingly, various actions have been defined and included in 18 different approaches to the problem with their corresponding measures.

The importance of the agricultural sector in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, especially its emblematic winegrowing sector, is so heavily linked to the climate and the availability of water that adaptation to climate change in this area is one of the region's priority objectives.

The Autonomous Community of the Basque Country is heavily conditioned by its location next to the Gulf of Biscay. Although varied, climate predictions for the end of the century include rising temperatures and sea levels, a reduction in overall precipitation levels and an increase in extreme weather phenomena, such as heatwaves and torrential rain. When applied to the various orographic, urbanistic and climate conditions of the Basque Country, these variations define each geographical area's vulnerability to the different impacts. In general, coastal areas and towns and villages set on river banks will be affected by rising sea levels and torrential rain, which will make flooding more probable. The urban climate and heatwaves will be influenced by phenomena referred to as "heat islands" and both the natural environment and the primary sector will be affected by environmental changes as a result of the availability of water and changes to plant cycles.

1. Vision of the Klima 2050 Strategy

The Basque Country has a competitive low-carbon economy adapted to climate effects, as a result of the consolidation of a knowledge-based climate change policy, which has made it possible to take advantage of the opportunities offered by innovation and technological development. This has been possible thanks to the co-responsibility of all the agents of Basque society, driven by the exemplary action of the Public Administration.

2. Objectives

In line with international commitments and after the analysis of different scenarios, based on socioeconomic and energy hypotheses, the strategy defines the following objectives:

• To reduce GHG emissions in the Basque Country by at least 40% by 2030 and by at least 80% by 2050, with respect to 2005.
• To reach a renewable energy consumption of 40% of final consumption by 2050.
• To ensure the resilience of the Basque territory to climate change.

The Strategy for climate change of Navarre 2010-20120 represents the fundamental efforts made by our institutions to deal with one of the most important challenges facing today's societies. The practical commitments revealed in the strategy include specific actions based on a sincerely positive approach that looks to contribute to collective intentions regarding global warming by 2020.

The road mapped out until then, based in this document on the goals of "reduction, preparation, transformation and traction", seeks to contribute not only to commitments regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (already in place or being prepared) on international, European and state levels, but also to changing an economic model based on particularly carbon-intense activities. This road was pioneered by initiatives such as the III Energy Plan of Navarre 2020, which was passed in May 2011.

Like many other regions, the Region of Murcia is witnessing changes such as increases to average temperatures, seasons arriving earlier or later and rising sea levels. Under the circumstances, besides continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, work must focus on defining policies for adapting to new conditions.

These policies for adaptation and preparation for climate change must be modelled on territorial circumstances and the impact anticipated for each business sector. Accordingly, the regional government has created the Regional Climate Change Observatory, which sends scientific, business and institutional information and knowledge to the appropriate channels.