The National Plan for Climate Change Adaptation (PNACC) is the primary planning instrument to promote coordinated and coherent action against the effects of climate change in Spain.
PNACC 2021-2030
After a period of public consultation, the Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, approved on September 22, 2020, the second National Plan for Climate Change Adaptation for the 2021-2030 period, whose main objective is to prevent or reduce current and future damages caused by climate change and build a more resilient economy and society.
The new PNACC incorporates new international commitments and reflects the latest knowledge about climate change risks, leveraging the experience gained during the development of the first PNACC.
Without prejudice to the powers of various Public Administrations, the PNACC 2021-2030 defines objectives, criteria, work areas, and action lines to promote adaptation and resilience to climate change. Specifically, it outlines and describes 81 action lines to be developed in the country’s various natural systems and socioeconomic sectors, organized into 18 work areas, including: human health, water and water resources, natural heritage, biodiversity and protected areas, coasts and marine environment, forest protection, combating desertification, and agriculture, livestock, and food security.
In addition to sectoral orientations, the plan proposes seven key work lines to be integrated transversally into all areas.
To get a summary of the objectives and main challenges of the PNACC, we recommend consulting this brief publication: PNACC 2021-2030, 21 Questions and Answers.
The PNACC 2021-2030 is the result of a collective process of analysis and reflection that began with the in-depth evaluation of the first PNACC 2006-2020 and its three work programs, carried out within the framework of the LIFE SHARA project 'Awareness and knowledge for climate change adaptation', with the aim of recognizing the progress made, the pending challenges, and the lessons learned to date.
The development of PNACC 2006-2020, through its successive work programs, has resulted in numerous outcomes corresponding to its different areas and pillars of action. At this link, you can check some of the achievements.
The evaluation exercise was based on two complementary sources: Opinions, assessments, and suggestions from professionals working in the field of adaptation in Spain, and the analysis of the implementation of the actions planned in the Plan and its three work programs. The result of this process is reflected in the PNACC 2006-2020 Evaluation Report.
Meanwhile, the new PNACC 2021-2030 will be developed through two five-year work programs.
The 2021-2025 Work Program, approved in 2022, includes 257 measures and 11 sub-measures covering 85 of the 88 action lines defined in the PNACC, to be implemented in the first five years of the Plan's development, and identifies the responsible entities. It also specifies the information, monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms associated with the program's execution.
This first 2021-2025 Work Program was developed based on contributions from 18 ministries, as well as various state agencies and autonomous organizations, and underwent a consultation and public participation period, whose report can be consulted at the following link.
PNACC-1 (2006-2020)
Since the approval of the first National Climate Change Adaptation Plan in 2006, developed between 2006 and 2020, the PNACC has served as the reference for public efforts in generating knowledge and building adaptive responses to climate change in various planning sectors.
The PNACC 2006-2020, coordinated by the Spanish Office for Climate Change (OECC), was carried out through three successive work programs. These programs prioritized and structured the activities included in the Plan, resulting in numerous achievements. The main achievements, organized according to the different areas and pillars of action, can be consulted at this link.
Among them, significant progress has been made in integrating climate change adaptation into regulations, strategies, and plans of the General State Administration. Below are some of the most notable documents:
Law 7/2021, of May 20, on Climate Change and Energy Transition, which dedicates Title V to climate change adaptation.
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030. Section 2.1.2 is dedicated to climate change adaptation, identifying potential climate change impacts on the energy system, adaptive measures, and analyzing the contribution of some measures included in the plan.
National Plan for Preventive Actions Against the Effects of Excessive Temperatures on Health (2021), which establishes measures to reduce the effects associated with excessive temperatures and to coordinate the institutions of the State Administration involved.
Royal Decree 1159/2021, amending the Water Planning Regulation, which establishes that during each planning cycle, basin organizations will prepare a specific study on adaptation to climate change risks in each river basin district for future consideration in the revision of the corresponding hydrological plan.
National Strategy for Green Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Ecological Restoration. This strategic document recognizes the great importance of green infrastructure as a mechanism for climate change adaptation and opens an intensive line of work for its conservation and development.
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Spanish Coast. Its objectives are to strengthen the resilience of the Spanish coast to climate change and climate variability and to integrate adaptation into coastal planning and management.
Finally, through this link you can access the MITECO website and expand your knowledge about the results of this first National Climate Change Adaptation Plan, developed over fifteen years.
