Vitoria Gasteiz

Spain

Mission city Pilot city
Spain National Platform
Vitoria Gasteiz Mission City Label
Population 260k
City Area 151.0 km²
City active since June 2022

Key Learnings

Exploring shared mobility solutions in Vitoria-Gasteiz

Vitoria-Gasteiz has launched a major car-pooling initiative to help achieve its climate neutrality aims. At the beginning of 2023, around 25,000 residents drove their own cars to industrial parks for work every day. Now, after a pilot project brought about 600 carpool trips a week, the measure will become long term.

Superblocks (Vitoria-Gasteiz)

The concept of “Superblocks” is an urban innovation that aims at low-carbon mobility following a participatory approach at the city and neighbourhood level. The idea is that the city, at the neighbourhood level, is reorganised into car-free areas that maximise public space for new social uses and keep road traffic outside the neighbourhoods – so called superblocks. Inner streets are redesigned for the primary use by pedestrians. The planning process as well as the adapted mobility behaviour after completion of the infrastructure changes both need strong communication and engagement work to faciliate a succesfull working of a Superblokck. In Vitoria-Gasteiz the positive environmental impacts of the measures were significant, reducing conmbustion engine-borne emmissions.

Recommendations for supporting municipalities in integrating Climate Action into the urban planning system

This guidance, developed under the NetZeroCities Project and funded by the City Expert Support Facility (CESF), aims to support municipalities—specifically Vitoria-Gasteiz—in aligning their urban planning with climate goals. It provides a structured framework to integrate climate action into the General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU), fostering sustainable, climate-resilient cities through collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches. Content Overview: Transforming from within Focuses on internal organizational change within municipal teams. Highlights the importance of fostering a culture of climate commitment, enhancing interdepartmental collaboration, and building capacity to address climate challenges through urban planning. New Approaches to Municipal Action Introduces innovative methodologies and tools for urban planning that prioritize climate action. Encourages adaptive governance, participatory processes, and the integration of climate risks and opportunities into planning frameworks. Keys to a Climate-Neutral PGOU Outlines essential strategies for achieving climate neutrality, such as promoting renewable energy, sustainable transport, green infrastructure, and circular economy principles. Emphasizes aligning urban development with local Climate Action Plans and international sustainability targets (e.g., the Paris Agreement). Next Steps for Your Municipality Provides actionable steps for municipalities to operationalize recommendations. Includes a roadmap for stakeholder engagement, policy integration, and monitoring progress toward climate goals. Learning from Other Cities Shares case studies and best practices from cities that have successfully integrated climate action into urban planning. Offers lessons learned and adaptable strategies to inspire and guide municipalities. Context and Collaboration: Produced through a competitive bidding process, the guidance reflects collaborative efforts between Paisaje Transversal, Tecnalia, the EUCinco project team (itdUPM, Demsoc, Dark Matters Lab), and the municipal team of Vitoria-Gasteiz. It is grounded in a collective reflection process within the city council, blending academic research, practical expertise, and real-world application to ensure actionable, evidence-based recommendations. Purpose and Impact: This document serves as a practical, multidisciplinary resource to empower municipalities to transform urban planning into a driver of climate action, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.
View all Vitoria Gasteiz Resources

Latest updates from the city

Pilot project spotlight
Visit Vitoria Gasteiz City Website Read Vitoria Gasteiz Climate City Contract Cologne City Profile (Twin City) Soria City Profile (Twin City)

External projects

City involvement in related European initiatives