UniversidaddeCádiz

The Algeciras Technological Campus Foundation and the University of Cádiz bring together experts, researchers, students and members of the public to discuss the challenges of SDG 13 and responses to climate change.

More than 180 people took part on Thursday in the 11th Sustainable Development Meeting, held at the R&D&I Building of the Algeciras Technological Campus. This year’s edition focused on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Climate Action. Organised by the Algeciras Technological Campus Foundation (FCTA) and the University of Cádiz through the Vice-Rectorate for the Bahía de Algeciras Campus, the event has become an established forum for reflection, analysis and knowledge exchange on current environmental challenges.

The meeting brought together experts, researchers, students, members of the university community and interested citizens to discuss the current state of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals established under the 2030 Agenda. Participants also shared projects and initiatives aligned with sustainable development objectives at both local and global levels.

The event opened with an inaugural session chaired by the Rector of the University of Cádiz, Casimiro Mantell, alongside Susana Pérez Custodio, President of the Commonwealth of Municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar, and Fran Arango, Councillor for Youth, Statistics, Fisheries and Sustainable Development at Algeciras City Council.

In his address, the Rector highlighted the close collaboration between the University of Cádiz and the Algeciras Technological Campus. He also welcomed the participation of meteorologist and oceanographer Mercedes Martín, a University of Cádiz alumna, who delivered the opening keynote lecture. Mantell additionally dedicated the event to the memory of José Carlos Gómez Villamandos, who recently passed away, and invited attendees to observe a minute of silence in his honour.

Susana Pérez Custodio emphasised the efforts being made by companies across the region to advance sustainability and efficiency, drawing particular attention to a project led by Arcgisa in collaboration with the Regional Government of Andalusia to regenerate wastewater for industrial use. Fran Arango, meanwhile, highlighted the event’s role as a strategic platform for environmental awareness in the Campo de Gibraltar area and reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to green policies, the circular economy and the objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Mercedes Martín under the title Learning to Read a Planet in Transformation. During her presentation, the climate change and sustainability specialist stressed the importance of combining emissions reduction with stronger observation and analysis of environmental systems. Referring specifically to Campo de Gibraltar, she highlighted the need to “plan, listen to the territory, understand its signals and transform that knowledge into data” in order to drive effective and sustainable change.

Following the keynote address, Martín moderated the panel discussion Climate Challenges in the Strait of Gibraltar: Present and Future, featuring Juan Antonio Patrón, Pilar Cañete, Pablo Antonio Fernández and Jesús Verdú. The panellists examined the region’s main environmental challenges as well as opportunities for sustainable development linked to the strategic setting of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The programme continued with presentations by researchers and university experts. Among the nine projects presented, all related to climate action, the award for Best Oral Presentation was granted to Neus Pérez Gimeno for the project Posidonia Soundscapes: Integrating Underwater Acoustics, Art and Artificial Intelligence for the Non-Invasive Monitoring of Posidonia oceanica Seagrass Meadows.

The event concluded with the presentation of awards for the Mira Sostenible #fotografiandoODS13 photography competition, organised as part of the meeting. The prizes were presented by Jesús Verdú and the Vice-Rector for the Bahía de Algeciras Campus, María de la Luz Martín. Awards went to Nerea Rodríguez for Germinal, Mónica Vilas for Metamorphosis: The Challenges of the Anthropocene, and Fernando de la Iglesia for Urban Lungs. The competition was supported by Boxes Alcultura and Kimau.

The 11th Sustainable Development Meeting was made possible through funding provided by the Regional Government of Andalusia’s Department of University, Research and Innovation, with additional support from the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras.