The Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) has published its decision of 29 January 2024, awarding a competitive project to UIC Barcelona as part of the call “Funding for research projects for mitigation and adaptation to climate change 2023”. The project “Measuring the impact of positive actions for mitigating climate change. Climate education at the University and from the University” is directed by Sílvia Albareda and has been awarded funding of €117,246.06.

In a climate emergency context, the project aims not only to identify why community actions related to climate change are largely invisible, but also to measure their positive ecosocial impact. “In the face of the climate emergency, laws and scientific-technical measures are needed, but it is vital to involve citizens in a positive climate attitude,” says Albareda, who is a lecturer and researcher and director of the Cooperation and Sustainable Development Office at UIC Barcelona.

The project, which focuses on promoting an inclusive, innovative and reflective society, seeks to transcend university areas to reach primary education, companies and solar communities. To do so, a framework for assessing competencies in global citizenship and a mobile application will be developed to measure the ecosocial impact of climate actions. "The goal is to make visible what is invisible, highlighting the processes that have been followed to use citizen science for the benefit of climate education," explains Albareda.

With this project, UIC Barcelona demonstrates its ongoing commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, using research as a tool to raise awareness and promote concrete actions in the fight against climate change.

UIC Barcelona currently has about 96 competitive projects in progress.