On 18 March, the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO) launched a project to take an integrated approach to the design of Coastal Protection Strategies for the Andalusian provinces of Almeria, Cadiz and Malaga. 

The project is being implemented by an international consortium led by the Coastal & Marine Union (EUCC) and which, along with MedCities, includes the Environmental Hydraulics Institute (IHCantabria) and the University of Cadiz. Working alongside MITECO, over the next 24 months the group will carry out a diagnosis, an analysis of possible scenarios and risk reduction options, and design the Coastal Protection Strategies.

The project will consider physical, environmental, socio economic and institutional factors that are implicated in coastline evolution and erosion, flooding, and the effects of climate change. MedCities is leading the communication and stakeholder-participation component of the project, which will involve the engagement of key actors at the municipal level, including the Municipality of Malaga, a MedCities member.

The launch meeting was attended by the head of the Sub-Directorate General for Coastal Protection of MITECO, the heads of its provincial delegations and their technical staff as well as the project team. The Structural Reform Support Service of the EU, which is financing the project, was also in attendance.