Forética has organized the forum ‘Net zero cities – the key role of the private sector’, at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, ​​where the report ‘Sustainable Mobility. Building climate neutral cities’. The study analyzes the main levers of change at a national, European and international level that are driving the transition towards sustainable mobility within cities to help meet the objective of climate neutrality in urban environments. In addition, it offers examples of how Spanish companies are essential actors in contributing to this change.

This meeting has been organized within the framework of the ‘Sustainable Cities 2030’ initiative -led by Forética and made up of a total of 25 companies and entities, led by CEMEX, ENGIE and Sanitas.

As highlighted in the forum, the development of sustainable mobility within Spanish cities is an essential element in the fight against climate change. According to data from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, transport in Spain accounts for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

As is being highlighted these days at the COP27 on Climate Change that is being held in Egypt, through the promotion of sustainable means of transport these emissions can be reduced, generating a positive impact on the health and well-being of the people who inhabit the cities and on the environment in general. For example, according to the World Economic Forum, with the electrification of urban transport, cities can help mitigate more than 70% of CO2 emissions, reducing 50% of air pollution.

The report published within the framework of the ‘Sustainable Cities 2030’ initiative highlights seven key levers for the transition towards sustainable mobility: innovation in batteries and low-carbon fuels, infrastructure development and planning, diversification of mobility solutions, the circular opportunities of the transport sector, the implementation of autonomous vehicles, the sharing of data and the joint effort of the different interest groups involved.

As the study highlights, mobility to work represents the majority reason for private displacement in Spain. According to data from the Metropolitan Mobility Observatory in Spain -analyzed by Forética in the report- it is estimated that, due to work and studies, trips by car and motorcycle represent an average of 62%, while trips by public transport are as only 13%. Each employee who teleworks avoids the emission of 599 kg of CO2 per year.

Forética has complemented this report with a document on the business contribution to climate neutral cities, in which the 7 key elements of the European Mission ‘Smart and climate neutral cities‘ are explained and ordered according to their degree of contribution by from the private sector. In it, it is shown how companies are fundamental in the development of sustainable investment plans, climate agreements, and R+D+i action plans, among other elements of climate-neutral cities.

Sustainable mobility: challenge and opportunity for companies

The keys to the European Mission ‘Smart and climate neutral cities’ have been explained by Patrick Child, Deputy Director General of the Environment DG of the European Commission and Manager of the initiative. For her part, Emily White, City-Business Climate Alliance & UrbanShift Manager of C40, has transferred the most outstanding global trends in terms of public-private collaboration in the field of urban sustainability.

The initiative is led by Forética and made up of a total of 25 companies and entities, led by CEMEX, ENGIE and Sanitas. Accenture, Adif, Enagás, Endesa, FCC, Ferrovial, GSK, IBM, LafargeHolcim, Mahou San Miguel, MAPFRE, Metro Ligero Oeste, Metrovacesa, Naturgy, Reale Seguros, Sacyr and Urbaser also participate in this initiative.

As allies, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is part of the global initiative, the CONAMA Foundation at the national level and the Madrid Business Forum, the Madrid Nuevo Norte project and the MWCC association at the local level. Likewise, Forética maintains strategic alliances with meetings of international relevance in this field such as the Smart City Expo World Congress or the Forum of Cities, in its different editions.

In the first edition of the ‘Sustainable Cities 2030’ initiative, Forética published the report ‘Rethinking our cities. Towards a new model of sustainable urban development’, which identifies six action levers towards a city model more sustainable and inclusive in the context of post-COVID-19 recovery. Specifically in terms of building as one of these levers, Forética published the report ‘Sustainable construction. Why is it key for the green recovery of cities?’, which analyzes the types of solutions and sustainable responses from companies in the construction sector.

In addition, in its trajectory on Sustainable Cities, Forética has projects such as the ‘Toolbox for adaptation to climate change in cities’, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, aimed at city councils to national level to develop their strategies and actions for adaptation to climate change. Also the ‘Sustainable Life in Cities’ project, which had the collaboration of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and the Spanish Office for Climate Change of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.