The interest of the Basque business fabric in the BasqueESG initiative – which is one of the transformative projects included in the Basque Government’s Basque Industry Plan 2030 – has increased significantly since its launch. There are currently 112 Basque SMEs taking part in this project and the goal is to reach 500 companies by the end of 2026.
The initiative was launched in November and has exceeded all expectations: 112 Basque SMEs are signed up to the project so far
Ihobe, the public environmental management company attached to the Basque Government's Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, carried out a wide range of activities in 2025 aimed at driving the energy and climate transition in the Basque Country, as detailed in the annual report published by the organisation.
The ‘Basque Country’s Circular Economy Indicators 2026’ report reveals sound progress in all areas of circularity, from material efficiency to waste material recovery. According to the document prepared by Ihobe, the environmental management agency attached to the Basque Government’s Ministry of Industry, the Energy Transition and Sustainability, the Basque Country continues to advance in the transition towards a more resource-efficient economy, generating less waste and making better use of materials.
The Basque Government – through Ihobe, its environmental management agency – has been involved in preparing the European methodology catalogue for ambitious youth participation, developed as part of the Society Shapers – Transforming European Participation (STEP) project. This initiative is financed by the Erasmus+ programme and seeks to bolster young people’s real engagement in policy decision-making processes.
The secure supply of materials and driving sustainable products manufactured in Europe – with special focus on steel and other metals – stand out as two of the decisive factors that will mark the evolution of the circular economy in the coming years, according to the Strategy Environmental Watch Report on the Circular Economy prepared by Ihobe, through the Basque Ecodesign Center.
The LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 project, led by the Basque Government's public company, Ihobe, is hosting the LIFE Platform Meeting on Climate Strategic Integrated Projects in Bilbao from today until 23 April. It is a European meeting that brings together the heads of 24 integrated and strategic projects from the LIFE Programme to share advances in mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
The Basque Country boasts two finalists in the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) European Awards. The selected initiatives are those promoted by the MATER Ecoactive Museum Boat and Alava Provincial Council, which have entered the European phase after having won the European Week for Waste Prevention 2025 in the Basque Country, organised by the European Commission and coordinated by the Public Company for Environmental Management, Ihobe.
