Economic analysis has promoted a strict conceptual distinction between, on the one hand, the total production of goods and services that an economy can potentially derive from its stock of capital and knowledge (the “fundamentals”) and, on the other, the institutions and norms that determine how production decisions are made and how the resulting gains are distributed among the members of the economy. It is a useful distinction, but one that can be dangerous if it opens the door to considering the former in isolation from the latter, as the realization of the potential described by the former may well depend on the latter. I will illustrate this with some examples.

The transformation project for the Three Chimneys of Sant Adrià de Besòs continues to take shape. Following the initial major presentation last March of what the interior of the iconic turbine hall of the former thermal power plant should look like – the future Catalonia Media City Now, its surroundings are also beginning to take shape. The Catalan government (Generalitat) announced this Saturday the winning proposal in the competition to design the future Three Chimneys Coastal Park, a green space of nearly 90,000 square meters in the Besòs Delta. One of its key features is its flood-proof design.

Sustainability is now a necessity and an essential part of the lives of people and companies seeking a better future. Caring for shared spaces is now an urgent need for our survival, and the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera is a prime example. Faced with the threat of climate change, action is the only option, and initiatives like those promoted by the Foundation demonstrate that transformation is possible.

More sustainable port facilities. This is one of the objectives of the energy transition plan presented this Tuesday by the Port of Barcelona. This document, derived from the port's fourth strategic plan, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% by 2030 compared to 2017 levels, "the equivalent of the annual emissions of 240,000 cars." Furthermore, it intends to reduce them by 85% by 2040 with the goal "of becoming a carbon-neutral port by 2050." Investments in infrastructure are projected at approximately €920 million from private funds and €780 million from public funds. The plan encompasses all the measures the Port of Barcelona is developing to "decarbonize port activity, guarantee the supply of sustainable energy, both environmentally and economically, and become a leading center for energy activities." In this document, the Port of Barcelona ceases to treat energy as a commodity, considering it "a strategic factor, key to strengthening the competitiveness of the port and the region in an increasingly demanding global market." Furthermore, it adds that this transformation "will consolidate the Port of Barcelona's leadership in both the maritime and port sector and the entire logistics chain, driving the energy transition far beyond the port area." This roadmap includes an action plan with more than 150 initiatives, grouped into four main areas: the decarbonization of port activity; the sustainability of energy consumption; resilience to guarantee energy supply; and innovation to facilitate the emergence of new business models and the adoption of emerging technologies. Electrification

It incorporates concrete measures to promote energy efficiency, aiming for 50% of port activity to be electrified by 2030 and for 65% of container ship and cruise ship gangways to be connected to Operational Power Systems (OPS), allowing them to shut down their engines while in port—a figure that will increase to 0%. Local energy production is also a focus, with the goal of having 100 megawatts (MWp) of photovoltaic energy installed by 2030 and exploring approaches that enable strategic management. Furthermore, the production of 100,000 tons of sustainable fuels annually is planned, including both biomethane and synthetic fuels. These fuels are a key element in the decarbonization of maritime transport, as the capacity to supply them allows for participation in maritime green corridors and attracts the most efficient and sustainable ships. "The energy transition plan shapes port planning for the coming years and will transform our energy model, generating new business areas. All actions taken and to be taken in the Port of Barcelona are designed and planned with the energy transition in mind. Sustainability already permeates the entire port business," stated the president of José.

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Barcelona aims to position itself as a leading city in sustainability. To achieve this, Barcelona+B asserts that it's essential to start in schools. This premise is the basis for the Eduquem+B project, a program that surveyed over 2,000 students from 29 schools across the city to determine if young people are prepared to face today's environmental and social challenges. The initiative, spearheaded by Barcelona+B with academic support from EADA Business School, begins with an innovative test. Be Ready for NowBased on the European GreenComp competence framework, the objective is clear: to diagnose what young people know about sustainability, how they act, and what skills they need to develop to become real agents of change. Training and raising awareness in educational institutions is the foundation for action.

The diagnosis reveals that students demonstrate a very positive attitude and a good level of understanding regarding environmental issues. They excel in systems thinking (69.1%) and in promoting nature (60.6%). However, only 42.8% express an intention to act in favor of sustainability, especially in the collective and political spheres. This contradiction worries the project's promoters. "Young people understand the complex nature of the problems, but they don't know how to act systemically; they don't act in groups or mobilize others," explains Federica Massa-Saluzzo, Director of Sustainability at EADA Business School. She points out that, historically, it has been young people who have driven major social transformations, and therefore considers the low level of civic participation detected "worrying." "We believe that good training and awareness-raising in schools could change this baseline," states Elena Damiá, Director of Barcelona+B at B Lab Spain.

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Barcelona will host the fifth edition of the Tomorrow Mobility congress next week, bringing together companies, government agencies, and experts from around the world to discuss the future of urban transport and promote more sustainable solutions. The event is co-organized by EIT Urban Mobility, a European Union agency based in Barcelona that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship to advance towards greener mobility. We spoke with Daniel Serra, director of investments and venture capital at EIT Urban Mobility and an expert in the field, about the evolution of sustainable mobility and the direction of the cities of the future.

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The traditional image of urban deliveries remains that of a van circling, blocking a lane, and searching for a place to stop. But in many cities—including Barcelona and several Catalan municipalities—this scene now coexists with cargo bikes that perform the same service with less noise, fewer emissions, and greater agility. Bicycle transportation has become a viable option for a considerable portion of urban goods distribution and, above all, a driver of change for public space and emissions reduction in cities.

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Transport is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Spain. According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, in 2022 this sector generated 30.7% of total emissions, with road transport accounting for 28.4%. This environmental pressure places mobility at the heart of the debate on the future of cities and forces us to rethink how we move around on a daily basis. In Catalonia, the transition to a cleaner and more efficient mobility model is progressing steadily, although it still suffers from territorial inequalities, connectivity deficits, and a strong dependence on private vehicles. The new law

The approval this October of the new sustainable mobility law represents a decisive step forward in providing Spain with a stable legal framework that guides transport policies towards a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive model. For the first time, the law recognizes mobility as a citizen's right and is structured around four fundamental pillars: universal accessibility, decarbonization, digitalization, and participatory governance. This approach aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their place of residence or economic situation, can travel safely, affordably, and sustainably. The law will also have a direct impact on businesses. Those with more than 200 employees per center (or 100 per shift) will be required to develop sustainable workplace mobility plans, with measures that promote active mobility—such as walking or cycling—carpooling, public transport, or teleworking. The final approval of the legislation, which still needs to pass through the Senate, is key to accessing nearly €10 billion in Next Generation EU funds. From a city of cars to a city of people

According to David Balbàs, an urban planning expert and coordinator of the School of Sustainable Mobility, "the big leap is not technological, but cultural and political: we have to put people at the center, not vehicles." He recalls that Catalonia was already a pioneer with its own mobility law in 2003, but warns that "inertia is still very strong and many politicians avoid bold decisions for fear of the electoral cost." However, Balbàs considers the approval of the new law a positive and necessary step: "The regulatory framework is fundamental to transforming our mobility systems, and this law is a first step in this direction." Nevertheless, the expert himself acknowledges that the text is late and may prove insufficient in some aspects. "It has taken twenty-two years since the first Catalan law to have a national law. Now everything will depend on how and when the actions it foresees are implemented," he points out. Progress is visible

In cities, private vehicles are becoming increasingly less important. In Barcelona, ​​two out of every three journeys (67.5%) are made using sustainable modes of transport – walking, public transport, scooters, or bicycles – according to the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM). Furthermore, 61% of residents in the Barcelona area report being regular users of public transport – one million more than two years ago. According to the ATM's 2024 report, these figures are driven by the convenience, the difficulty of parking a private vehicle, and the lower cost of public transport. Public transport pricing policies, including discounts implemented since September 2022, are also a significant incentive. Bicing, Barcelona's public bike-sharing service, has reached a record 8,000 bikes in circulation, 5,000 of which are electric, and the network is being expanded with new stations to reach more parts of the city. Furthermore, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) continues to renew its fleet: the goal is for half of its buses to be zero-emission by 2030. Today, one in four vehicles is already electric or powered by green hydrogen. The electric car: necessary, but insufficient

Electric vehicles have become the visible symbol of the ecological transition, but Balbàs warns that "electric cars reduce local emissions but don't solve the underlying problem: space, congestion, and energy dependence. Electrification alone isn't enough: the energy must come from renewable sources, and the total number of vehicles on the road must be reduced. Currently, only 19% of the electricity consumed in Catalonia is from renewable sources, according to data from the Renewable Energy Observatory of Catalonia. The goal for 2030 is to reach 50% of this figure."

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Barcelona Global has launched an initiative to make the metropolitan area an international benchmark in the fight against climate change. This Chapter Climate was held this Tuesday with a meeting that brought together around 100 business leaders and executives from different sectors, with the aim of activating a shared agenda and exchanging good practices between companies and institutions in the field of sustainability.

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In a global context marked by the climate emergency and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Abertis has managed to reduce its direct emissions by 25% (Scope 1, which includes fuel combustion and the transport of its own fleet) and indirect emissions (Scope 2, which refers to greenhouse gases). This objective has been achieved in just five years and now, the company has set itself a new, even more ambitious challenge: to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. This is how the group specialized in infrastructure and mobility management successfully completes its first ESG Plan (in English, environmental, social and governance) 2022-2024.

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In today's football where everything is bought with money, a unique club survives in La Garrotxa with a very strong policy on and off the pitch, based on sustainability and proximity. "It's a project that creates a sense of pride in belonging to this family, which transforms into a bond, unity, and performance." This is how Pedro del Campo, the first captain, describes what Olot means, a team characterized by having only players from the Catalan Countries. "This generates a much stronger sense of belonging. The new signings quickly get into the swing of things, get to know the club, its positioning, and we form a family. This connection translates into a good rapport on the pitch and into results," the player assures.

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In a time of climate urgency, rethinking how we build is as important as redefining what we build. The construction sector, responsible for a high percentage of global CO2 emissions,₂ and waste generation, is facing a turning point. In this context, Losberger De Boer has developed a modular construction model that prioritizes real, measurable, and adaptable sustainability for each client.

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Luxury evolves in many ways, such as in the choice of materials it uses. A testament to this phenomenon is the new Atelier Next collection by Silhouette, specializing in high-quality eyewear and sunglasses. For this new launch, the Austrian brand has chosen materials such as vegan leather and recycled gold. In this way, Silhouette sought to merge the creative and technological innovation that has characterized it since its inception with new trends in the luxury sector. With the incorporation of more conscious customers, it must ensure that its products are more environmentally friendly.

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Increasingly, companies and society are becoming aware of the need to implement sustainable actions in their daily lives. Fifty years ago, sustainability was seen as merely a cost for businesses; now, it's a necessity. As investors, we can also pivot our investments to more sustainable companies. However, we are not guaranteed higher returns or lower risks.

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With the change in temperature, many people are starting to consider doing the famous wardrobe swap. A concept that we have become familiar with twice a year and that involves organizing that, in some cases, can take a few hours. But is it really necessary? For people like Patricia Eguidazu, author of the book The day she stopped buying clothes (Destiny 2025), changing your wardrobe is simply an invention of the fashion industry to encourage compulsive shopping.

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The commuter train service in Camp de Tarragona continues to be a complete nonsense. The frequencies are insufficient, the infrastructure is obsolete, and the constant breakdowns and delays generate great uncertainty among users. This situation influences and strengthens the dependence on private vehicles to the detriment of public transport. Without significant investment in improving rail services, the transition toward more efficient and environmentally friendly mobility will be severely limited.

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Villas or apartment blocks on the beachfront, scattered and unconnected housing developments and houses in the middle of natural areas: the coast is full of them all, and you can't undo what has already been done. But you can try to protect what is left of the coast. With this aim, the Catalan government has approved an urban development master plan to review the sustainability of 41 municipalities' urban planning, from Malgrat de Mar to Alcanar. It is the continuation of the protection plan for the Costa Brava, which already vetoed the construction of 15,000 homes, although it also gave the green light to another 15,000. In order to carry out the review, the Generalitat will suspend the licenses for projects that could involve the construction of 70,000 homes in 30 municipalities for a maximum of one year. It will also evaluate 40,000 more in other areas. The suspension, however, will not affect urbanization or construction projects that are already underway.

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"The spending ceiling will anticipate the most expansive budgets in the country's history", stated the Minister of Employment, Yolanda Díaz, on Monday. The words of the second vice-president are not only a déjà-vu of the discourse that has prevailed since the pandemic began, but anticipate another record expenditure ceiling which the Council of Ministers plans to approve this Tuesday. This is a fundamental step in drawing up the general state budgets for 2021, which the two partners in the coalition government, PSOE and Unidas Podemos, will begin to negotiate this week. "They will be public accounts to solve the problems the social majority of the country has," insisted Diaz.

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Both the colourful printed blouse and the black trousers worn by interior designer and community manager Laura Acosta are not hers. She rented them online. She has more pieces like these in her wardrobe: they arrive at her house in boxes, she wears them for a month and then they are picked up. She doesn't even need to wash them. "During the pandemic I saw that I didn't need so many clothes and I only used part of what I had in my wardrobe", explains the 33 year-old woman from Barcelona. Renting pieces for the everyday has become a practical resource for many consumers and could be established for life. Not only because it is a model of a circular and collaborative economy, but because it is more profitable, you don't have to buy clothes and accessories to wear them, you can vary the style, the pieces are optimised and sustainability is promoted.

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Many people wonder whether organic food is healthier and better for the environment. At the conference "Organic food", held at the City and Science Biennial and framed in Barcelona, the capital of sustainable food in 2021, has tried to give them an answer.

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