The Barcelona Green Deal 2030 represents an ambitious urban and economic agenda aimed to transform the city into a more competitive, sustainable, and equitable place over the next decade. Recently unveiled at the Barcelona reAct conference, the plan outlines ten key priorities and 38 specific measures to be implemented.
Competitiveness Priorities
- Entrepreneurial City: The first priority is to transform Barcelona into a city that nurtures economic activity, fostering an environment conducive to both large and small businesses. The goal is to reduce the average startup time, currently 48 hours, and make Barcelona a free zone for entrepreneurs and freelancers during their initial years of activity. The “Barcelona Easy Plan” will reduce administrative barriers, joining the Single Business Window and launching the city’s Single Business Portal. Furthermore, new entrepreneurs will enjoy a “Zero Taxes” scheme during their first year of activity, aiding their initial steps in business.
- Digital Capital: The second priority focuses on maintaining and promoting Barcelona’s digital capital status. The city aims to be a leading digital and entrepreneurial epicentre, leveraging the strength of its ICT sector, which currently represents 5.5% of jobs and about 4% of the business fabric in the city. A significant step towards achieving this will be training 3,000 new digital professionals in the next five years via initiatives like the IT Academy. The city also aims to ensure the continuity of the Mobile World Congress beyond 2023, reinforcing Barcelona’s position on the global digital stage.
- City of Talent: Barcelona is committed to becoming a city of talent by training, attracting, retaining, and hosting the best minds in society. This includes a structured commitment to talent as a driver for social innovation and business competitiveness and a talent return plan for young emigrants who left due to economic circumstances.
- Barcelona Open to the World: The city plans to bolster its international reputation by projecting itself as a global city. This includes fostering a new international economic promotion strategy and creating tools for public-private partnerships, like an International Investment Attraction Agency.
Sustainability Priorities
The Barcelona Green Deal has a strong focus on sustainability, particularly in the areas of circular and value economy and the creation of new poles of economic activity.
- Circular and Value Economy: Barcelona is at the forefront of the fight against climate change, having recently approved a Declaration of Climate Emergency. This declaration outlines a series of measures, primarily ecological solutions, such as the Public Energy Agency and the Low Emission Zone. The city is committed to finding alternatives that prevent the climate emergency from creating new social or competitiveness inequalities, as outlined in the Barcelona Green Deal. The necessary ecological transition is also viewed as an opportunity for economic growth and job creation. As highlighted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the circular economy plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, suggesting that tackling climate change requires a transformation towards a more social, digital, and circular consumption model. To make this a reality, Barcelona will implement several measures:
- 2020-2030 Economy Strategy for Sustainability: This strategy aims to promote what is referred to as a sustainable economy. This includes removing bureaucratic, administrative, and cultural barriers that hinder investment in the green economy. It also aims to accelerate decision-making for those wishing to invest in energy efficiency and regulate new economic activities to ensure they align with sustainability values.
- Besòs Ecodistrict: This initiative will develop the Besòs Axis as the city’s new green axis, giving a new impetus to economic activity and employment linked to innovative industrial activity and ecological transition. The northern hub will bring together industrial SMEs committed to the green and circular economy, while the southern hub will be a hub for knowledge, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship linked to the green economy.
- Investment Fund for the “Barcelona, Get Sustainable” Programme: The city will establish a fund of up to €50 million to act as a lever for private investment and to accelerate the transition to sustainability.
- Promotion of the Solar Economy and Energy Rehabilitation: Barcelona will also boost photovoltaic power generation and energy rehabilitation, activating both internal and external measures to foster energy communities, new operating agents, and the generation of employment in this field.
- New Poles of Economic Activity: The Green Deal also emphasises urban planning policies as a fundamental tool for generating new hubs of economic activity. The plan commits to creating clusters in digitalization, innovation, and industry 4.0, combining urbanism and economic activity.
- The measures under this priority include:
- Economic Vision in the City’s Urban Development: Major urban changes will be undertaken with an economic dimension, applying this logic to key areas such as the Olympic Port, the 22@ district, the Free Zone, and other large infrastructures.
- Joint Strategy between Urban Planning and Economic Promotion: A joint strategy will be defined to facilitate the efficient implementation of urban projects, starting with the 22@ district, a key sector for strengthening Barcelona’s potential with regard to the technology sector.
- Redevelopment of Industrial Estates and the City Centre: A plan will be rolled out to transform industrial estates and revitalise the city centre, introducing new spaces for economic activity that are local, pioneering, and innovative.
- Infrastructure Agenda for Competitiveness: Barcelona will lobby the Spanish government to improve the city’s infrastructure to boost its connectivity and competitiveness.
- Creative and Blue Economy Clusters: The city will create clusters dedicated to the creative industries and the blue economy, providing spaces for innovative initiatives and fostering internationalisation.
- The Visitor’s Economy: Recognizing the importance of tourism, Barcelona will strive to balance visitor interests with local needs, fostering a sustainable and mutually beneficial visitor economy.
- Aim to differentiate between types of tourists to manage different visitor flows.
- Increase the contribution of tourism to the city, including a tourist tax, for improving services and city potential.
- Expand the city’s tourist spaces, diversify the offer beyond heritage icons, and stimulate creative industries, culture, sport, and research.
- Create a tourism and culture fund to stimulate cultural content production.
Equity Priorities
- A More Social and Supportive Economy: To ensure that economic prosperity is shared, the city will promote a more socially inclusive and supportive economic environment.
- Small Economy to Make the City Big: The Green Deal acknowledges the vital role of small businesses in the city’s economy, pledging support to enhance their growth and development.
- Aim to differentiate between types of tourists to manage different visitor flows.
- Increase the contribution of tourism to the city, including a tourist tax, for improving services and city potential.
- Expand the city’s tourist spaces, diversify the offer beyond heritage icons, and stimulate creative industries, culture, sport, and research.
- Create a tourism and culture fund to stimulate cultural content production.
- Good Employment: Quality and Employability: The plan prioritises creating quality jobs and seeks to enhance employability, contributing to a more resilient and equitable labour market.
- Aim to differentiate between types of tourists to manage different visitor flows.
- Increase the contribution of tourism to the city, including a tourist tax, for improving services and city potential.
- Expand the city’s tourist spaces, diversify the offer beyond heritage icons, and stimulate creative industries, culture, sport, and research.
- Create a tourism and culture fund to stimulate cultural content production.
The Barcelona Green Deal represents a strategic roadmap for the city’s future, aligning economic development with sustainability and social equity. With its wide range of measures, it serves as a model for other cities aspiring to balance economic growth with social and environmental sustainability. The success of the plan will rely heavily on public participation and collective efforts, making it an inclusive and collaborative project for the entire city.
