Initiatives underway to combat climate change
Use of public transport
According to the data from the Basque Transport Observatory (OTEUS), around 29% of journeys every day are by public transport. Public transport has a smaller carbon footprint than when travelling by private vehicle and it is therefore the more sustainable option.
The MoveEuskadi website and its app for smartphones, can be used to plan your journey by public transport in the Basque Country, with combinations between all the means of public transport: bus, underground, tram, the “topo” line (train between San Sebastian and Bayonne), train and ferry.
Car sharing
In those cases when public transport cannot take you where you want to go or there are problems with the timetables, you can consider the alternative of car sharing, which will mean considerable economic savings for you and will help to reduce the number of vehicles circulating in our cities and towns.
The MoveEuskadi website has a service to put users with the same destination in contact with each other.
There are also other car sharing platforms such as:
- compartir.org – This scheme operates worldwide. In the Basque Country, Amurrio, Arrasate-Mondragón, Azpeitia, Bilbao, Debegesa, Eibar, Goierri, Iurreta, Lasarte-Oria, Legazpi, Urola Kosta, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bizkaia and Zuatzu Technology Park and Zuatzu Business Park are part of the network of cities and entities that encourage the use of car sharing
- compartocoche.com
- amovens.com
More and more companies and business parks have set up car sharing schemes. Check out what yours offers!
Using your bicycle
Cycling keeps you fit and means you can travel around without polluting at all. Whenever you can, try and use this means of transport.
The Basque Energy Board (EVE) offers a series of recommendations when cycling in towns and cities. It also runs courses on cycling in towns and cities. This scheme is open to any local council, institution and company of the Basque Country that wishes to organise such a course in its municipality and facilities. The EVE provides the design of the seminar, along with the instructors and monitors needed for the course that will be run in a room provided by the applicant, which will also provide the bicycles needed for the practical sessions in real conditions within the municipality.
To find the best cycle routes, the MoveEuskadi website has a feature to look for cycle lanes, while the Ibilbideak website and the Basque Government’s Youth Portal, Gazteaukera, has information on the cycle routes in the Basque Country.
If you do not have your own bike, several municipalities have municipal bike loan schemes. Check out the hire and loan services available.
Cycling, the way ahead for towns and cities
Recycling alternatives
We are generating more and more waste. We have to work together to ensure that we reduce as little waste as possible in our homes and work centres and that it is managed appropriately. To do so, you need to get involved in sorting the different materials (glass, paper, oil, plastic, organic matter, etc.) and to use the recycling centres or garbigunes set up by the Provincial Councils to collect items such as tonners, CDs, mobile phones or household appliances. Don’t forget that local councils will collect household bulky and toxic waste.
No olvides que los ayuntamientos cuentan con servicios de retirada de voluminosos y residuos tóxicos del hogar. Te animamos a que conozcas algunos de estos servicios y a que los utilices, pregunta en tu ayuntamiento.
Composting
Composting is a low impact option regarding climate change in terms of managing waste. Composting consists of transforming garden and kitchen organic waste into fertiliser.
If there is the 5th container, for organic waste, in your municipality, that is the easiest composting option. Otherwise, you can also opt for composting at home. This involves using a compost bin to carry out this process at home. Mancomunidad de San Marcos has published a composting at home guide.
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