Por Redaccion 
The Council of Government has taken note of the actions carried out by the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Andalusia within the framework of the European project ‘Catalyst 2030’.
Andalusia has been selected as one of the twenty European regions that will be part of this international initiative, promoted by the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions, with the aim of strengthening regional policies linked to the SDGs. This project is born with a transformative vocation, advocating for an innovative approach that allows territories to share knowledge, improve their evaluation systems, and establish new action strategies that ensure a real and effective implementation of the objectives set by the 2030 Agenda.
The project, which will run until the end of 2026, is supported by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, a reference entity in the scientific and technical field that will advise the participating regions in the design and improvement of their public policies on sustainable development. In this context, Andalusia will have the opportunity to position itself as a leading region in the implementation of sustainable policies, with direct access to specialized technical knowledge and pioneering experiences from other European regions.
With its participation in the ‘Catalyst 2030’ project, Andalusia takes a further step in its commitment to governance focused on the welfare and quality of life of Andalusians and future generations. A shared roadmap, where each measure, each tool, and each project are integrated into a common purpose: advancing towards a fairer, greener, and more sustainable society.
The recent project launch meeting, held at the end of March in Brussels, marked the beginning of this collaborative ecosystem. There, the Andalusian Government shared some of the strategic lines it is developing. This intervention took place in the thematic block focused on resilience to climate change, where Andalusia highlighted the role of the Andalusian Climate Action Plan (PAAC) as the backbone of its commitment to the SDGs.
The PAAC, approved in 2021, is the main climate planning tool of the Andalusian Government. It is aligned with the most ambitious international commitments, such as the Paris Agreement or the European Green Deal, and sets out a clear roadmap to progress towards a low-emission, resilient, and fair development model. It is structured around key areas such as mitigation, adaptation, energy transition, citizen participation, or communication, and its impact is tangible: out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN, the PAAC directly affects 15, with its contribution to SDG 13 on climate action being particularly relevant with 119 measures.
In Brussels, the Andalusian Government presented several significant actions developed within the framework of the PAAC that exemplify its active commitment to climate challenges. Among them, the annual report on budget execution with an impact on climate change stands out, allowing an evaluation of the extent to which Andalusian public accounts are aligned with sustainability objectives and geared towards a low-carbon economy. This tool is complemented by the methodological guide for assessing climate risks, essential for making more effective decisions in the face of the effects of climate change in different sectors and territories.
Support for local climate action
Andalusia also shared its experience in pioneering initiatives such as blue carbon credit certification, an innovative formula that allows the restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, such as the tidal marshes of the Bay of Cadiz, with a public-private collaboration approach. Additionally, it highlighted progress in the Andalusian Absorption Projects Catalog, which includes 27 afforestation initiatives in 2,396 hectares aimed at emissions offsetting and already has projects distributed across the eight Andalusian provinces.
Another pillar highlighted in the presentation was local climate action. The Andalusian Government actively supports municipalities in developing their own municipal plans against climate change, also through networks such as Reversa, which strengthen cooperation between local and regional administrations to achieve common goals in terms of climate neutrality and resilience.
In parallel, the Andalusian commitment to the circular economy was emphasized. In this sense, Andalusia has taken significant steps through the promotion of specific legislation, such as the Andalusian Circular Economy Law of 2023, a pioneer at the national level, laying the groundwork for a more efficient model based on resource utilization, waste prevention, and the promotion of new productive sectors linked to sustainability. Energy transition is another major priority. The Andalusian Government has established mechanisms to streamline administrative procedures related to renewable energies, facilitating the deployment of sustainable projects that contribute to the decarbonization of the regional energy system and the creation of green jobs.
All these actions are part of a regional strategy that sees the 2030 Agenda as an effective tool to improve people’s quality of life, protect the environment, and create opportunities for fair and balanced development. In Andalusia, sustainability is understood as a cross-cutting guide that guides government action in multiple areas: from land planning and water management to international cooperation and environmental education.
In this collective effort, monitoring and evaluating progress play a key role. In this regard, the Andalusian Institute of Statistics and Cartography, which also participates in the ‘Catalyst 2030’ project, has implemented a system of indicators that allows for a rigorous analysis of the evolution of the SDGs in Andalusia, facilitating decision-making and ensuring the coherence of public policies with global objectives.