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Climate change and biodiversity loss are two global challenges that significantly impact our lives. Addressing these problems requires action not only at the global or national scale, but also at the local and personal levels.

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Map of good practices - your gateway to discovering the best practices and real-life examples of urban ecology!

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The primary aim of EURECA Academy is to create urban ecology training with a focus on the learner, aiming to strengthen awareness of climate change and sustainability issues.

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2025-02-28

Transnational Meeting in Malaga

The third transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ project European Urban Ecology Academy (EURECA) took place in Malaga, Spain, from 27 to 31 January, organised by Internet Web Solutions, one of the five consortium partners. During the meeting, an evaluation of the project implementation was conducted and preparations were made for the launch of the e-learning course on urban ecology, consisting of five modules covering the following topics: urban ecosystems, water, energy, waste and green cities. The meeting included guided visits to examples of good ecological practices and environmental sustainability initiatives in Malaga, as well as a visit to the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders, which operates under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. There, discussions were held on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. One of the places visited was the Hotel Mariposa, whose facade is covered with a vertical hydroponic garden irrigated with recycled water. Located in the centre of Malaga, it is an example of the integration of natural principles into building architecture in an urban environment. Another place visited was Plaza Mayor, one of the best practices included in the EURECA course. During a morning visit, representatives of the partners consortium had the opportunity to explore in detail the gardens of this shopping centre. These gardens form a true ecosystem, combining a wide variety of plants and animals in a natural and sustainable approach, supported by an elevated level of technology. The Historical Botanic Garden La Concepción, north of Malaga and founded in 1855, was another site visited. The garden is home to more than 50,000 plants, including 3,000 tropical, subtropical and native species, and absorbs around 2,670 tonnes of CO2 per year. It is classified as a Site of Cultural Interest. In 2019, the garden hosted a meeting of the Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanic Gardens, where the Malaga Declaration on Climate Change will be approved.

EURECA Course Begins Testing in April

The EURECA course on urban ecology will be tested between April and July in the five project partner countries (Czechia, Spain, Italy, Poland and Portugal), in the national language version of each country. The course also has an English version, available on the website. The course, in online digital format, consists of five modules with five units each, covering various aspects of the key issues of urban ecology in a practical approach related to people's daily lives and their impact on the environment. The themes of the modules and units are as follows: M1. CITIES FOR PEOPLE U1. People-centred urban planning. U2. Architecture and Construction. U3. Mobility and Accessibility. U4. Production and consumption. U5. Citizen’s participation. M2. WATER MANAGEMENT U1. Water shortage. U2. Water revitalisation. U3. Urban islands. U4. Irrigation. U5. Water retention in the landscape. M3. LESS ENERGY, BETTER FUTURE U1. Pro-environmental management of electricity. U2. Pro-environmental thermal energy management. U3. Community and local energy initiatives. U4. Energy management in cities. U5. DIY: how to build a solar kitchen. M4. WASTE MANAGEMENT U1. Introduction: Basics of urban waste management U2. Recycling and Reuse: transforming waste into resources. U3. Circular economy and waste. U4. Community involvement and behaviour change. U5. Environmental and health impacts of urban waste. M5. THE GREEN CITY U1. Benefits of greenery at home and in the city. U2. Plants at home, environmentally friendly growing methods. U3. Plants in the garden, organic growing methods. U4. Green building applications. U5. Neighbourhood and urban green spaces. The tests will serve to assess the adequacy of the course materials to the needs and expectations of a wide variety of adult learners and identify necessary and possible improvements.

2024: The Hottest Year ever

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, with a global average temperature increase of 1.55 degrees Celsius (°C) above the pre-industrial average of 1850-1900. Similarly, January 2025 was the warmest ever recorded, with the global average temperature 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels. The Copernicus Climate Change Monitoring Service reports that last January was the 18th out of the last 19 months to exceed the 1.5°C increase—the threshold set by the Paris Agreement for global warming above the pre-industrial levels. The European Copernicus service highlights that not even the occurrence of La Niña — a cyclical natural weather phenomenon that cools the Pacific Ocean, counteracting the warming effects of El Niño — was not enough to prevent January from being the hottest month on record. Global warming is also increasing in the ocean, with 2024 recording the highest sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content in the upper 2,000 metres ever observed. This conclusion comes from 54 scientists from seven countries and 31 institutes, who analysed a huge dataset and published in January the article "Record High Temperatures in the Ocean in 2024" in the magazine Advances in Atmospheric Science. Glaciers are also suffering the effects of global warming, with an annual loss of 273 billion tonnes of ice since the beginning of the century. This is the finding of 61 scientists from 49 research centres in18 countries, who published the article "Community Estimate of Global Glacier Mass Changes from 2000 to 2023" in Nature this February. On a global scale, European glaciers in the Alps and Pyrenees are melting the fastest. Since 2000, the loss of glacier ice has already contributed to an 18 millimetre rise in sea level. The threat of glacier disappearance has prompted United Nations General Assembly to declare 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation. On 21 March, the world will celebrate the first World Glacier Day. The climate crisis has worsened in 2024, which "means we have to fight even harder to get on the right track. The extreme temperatures of 2024 demand bold climate action in 2025. There is still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But world leaders must act now," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.