A UB initiative promotes citizen science activities to find out about the impact of climate change in Barcelona

Specifically, I-CHANGE (Individual Change of Habits Needed for Green European Transition) is a European project of the Horizon 2020 programme that aims to involve citizens in the challenges of climate change, sustainable development and environmental protection within the framework of the European Green Pact, the European Climate Pact and the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

From climate change to air pollution

During the next I-CHANGE Day, in each of the eight living labs in different cities — Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Dublin, Hasselt, Genoa, Jerusalem and Ouagadougou — citizen science activities will take place, including tours of the most relevant places in the city around each community. The idea is to understand how extreme temperature episodes affect different neighbourhoods, reflect on these issues and identify strategies and behaviours to better coexist with these new conditions.

“The philosophy behind this project is that we can know and learn better through citizen participation, and that knowledge motivates us to change and adopt increasingly sustainable behaviours. The I-CHANGE Day will also allow the UB research group to process and analyse data at a high resolution, which will facilitate an exchange of information with the people who collaborate,” says Professor Llasat.

In the city of Barcelona, the Barcelona Living Lab on Extreme Events organizes, from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., a workshop at the Casal Cívic i Comunitari Barcelona - Verdum Artesania (Government of Catalonia) on heat in the neighbourhood. The activity is open to anyone who wants to take part in a research project on the impact of extreme temperatures in the urban environment. To participate, it is necessary to register in advance, by email (cc.verdumartesania@gencat.cat or ichange@meteo.ub.edu).

Throughout the day, a campaign is also planned to measure air pollution with low-cost sensors involving the communities in the areas where these devices are installed. Teachers and students from seven schools of the Jesuïtes Educació Foundation — Bellvitge, Casp, Clot, Gràcia, Sant Gervasi, Sant Ignasi and Sant Pere — are taking part, where some devices installed have been collecting data since the beginning of 2023. Once the results are known, an activity will be carried out with secondary school pupils to help them understand and qualitatively compare the degree of pollution in the different regions — as well as the stations installed in different parts of the city — and to raise public awareness.