(Irun, 7 February 2018). The third Uhinak congress, organised by Ficoba and AZTI and set to be held on March 6 and 7 at Ficoba, will once again bring together experts from the scientific, technical, local government and business sectors for a joint debate on what can be done to combat the effects of climate change and extreme phenomena affecting coastal areas in the Atlantic Arc.

The eminently cross-border congress has attracted 45 speakers who will address four thematic areas – coastal climate change challenges; extreme events and action; blue economy and climate change mitigation; governance and management and decision-making tools – through twelve guest speeches, oral presentations and posters.

In addition to the wide range of topics addressed there will also be an exhibition space showcasing the presentations in the form of posters. This area will be open to visitors throughout the congress and will be the backdrop for different experts to discuss issues such as tools for forecasting floods caused by waves for crisis management of wave-related submersion phenomena, recognition of coastal works from satellite imagery, problems faced by the legislator and the French courts on determining shoreline limits in the maritime-terrestrial public domain or improvement actions for sustainable management of the Basque beaches.

Who will attend Uhinak?

Uhinak is particularly geared to all actors, enterprises, institutions and organisations in general that work and perceive opportunities connected with the impact of coastal climate change. It therefore attracts political representatives, technicians from coastal communities and municipalities and other local authorities competent in this area, experts from technology and research centres, universities, companies and business associations. In short, it aims to apply the scientists’ vision and the managers’ resources to the problems faced by the citizens.

An exhibition to increase awareness of marine litter

As a complementary activity at the congress, Uhinak presents the photographic exhibition “Facing the Global Challenge of Marine Litter” organised by the LIFE LEMA Project (http://lifelema.eu/) as part of the European LIFE programme for the Environment and Climate Action, which aims to provide local authorities with a set of guidelines and intelligent tools for sustainable management of floating marine litter.

The project involves an international work team, with six partners led by the  Gipuzkoa Regional Government. The research centres AZTI and Rivages Pro Tech-Suez, the public bodies Syndicat Mixte Kosta Garbia and Biarritz City Council and the NGO Surfrider Foundation Europe complete the team.

About Uhinak

Uhinak, the Cross-Border Conference on Climate and Coastal Change organised by Ficoba and the technology centre AZTI.

Uhinak is backed by a Technical Committee consisting of representatives of the Basque Government (Ihobe), the Gipuzkoa Regional Government, Adegi, CSIC/ESADE/CEAB, the Spanish Climate Change Office, BC3, EUCC Atlantic Center, the Basque Official Association of Civil Engineers, GIS Littoral Basque, the Sustainability Observatory/Cristina Enea Foundation and AZTI.

Uhinak is also supported by numerous institutions such as the Basque Government’s Department of the Environment, Land Planning and Housing through its public company Ihobe, theGipuzkoa Regional Government, Communauté d’Agglomération Pays Basque and the Nouvelle Aquitaine Region.

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