Gemma Garcia-Blanco is Senior Researcher at TECNALIA Research & Innovation-Energy, Climate and Urban Transition (2005- to date)

BSc in Geography (University of Oviedo 1998), MSc in Environmental Sciences (University of East Anglia, 2003)

PhD student Doctoral Programme in Social, Political and Cultural Studies, (University of the Basque Country, 2022- to date).

Focused on climate resilient and nature-positive spatial and urban planning, particularly mainstreaming climate change and urban greening into urban planning procedures, practices, and routines, from an innovative planning perspective, strengthening initiatives for public administrations at different levels of governance, including international cooperation activities.

References

Scientific papers

• García-Blanco, G., Navarro, D., & Feliu, E. (2023). Adopting Resilience Thinking through Nature-Based Solutions within Urban Planning: A Case Study in the City of València. Buildings, 13(5), 1317. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051317
• Mayor, B., et al. (2021). State of the art and latest advances in exploring business models for nature-based solutions. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(13), 7413. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137413
• Naumann, S., Burgos Cuevas, N., Davies, C., Bradley, S., Mahmoud. I.H., Arlati, A. (2023). Harnessing the power of collaboration for nature-based solutions: New ideas and insights for local decision-makers. Publications Office of the European Union, 2020, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/954370
• Mendizabal, M., et al. (2018). Stimulating urban transition and transformation to achieve sustainable and resilient cities. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 94, 410–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.003
• Barton, D., et al. (2018). (Dis) integrated valuation: narrowing the gap between ES appraisals and governance support. Journal of Ecosystem Services, 29, 529–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.10.021
• Dunford, R., et al. (2018). Integrating methods for ecosystem service assessment: Experiences from real-world situations. Ecosystem Services, 29, 499–514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.10.014
• Saarikoski, H., Primmer, E., Saarela, S.-R., … Vikström, S., Young, J. (2018). Institutional challenges in putting ecosystem service knowledge in practice. Ecosystem Services, 29, 579–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.07.019
• Carmen, E., et al. (2018). Knowledge needs for the operationalisation of the concept of ecosystem services. Ecosystem Services, 29, 441–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.10.012
• Dick, J., et al. (2018). Stakeholders’ perspectives on the operationalisation of the ecosystem service concept: Results from 27 case studies. Ecosystem Services, 29, 552–565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.09.015
• Olazabal, M., Urzelai, A., García-Blanco, G., … Santa-Coloma, O., Aspuru, I. (2010). Sustainable spatial management: An integrated approach. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Municipal Engineer, 163(1), 33–41.
• Olazabal, M., García, I., García-Blanco, G., et al. (2008). Flows, drivers, services and functions, and urban typologies: an integrated approach for the analysis of urban ecosystems. In A. Gospodini, C. A. Brebbia, & E. Tiezzi (Eds.), The Sustainable City V (pp. 768). WIT Press. ISBN: 978-1-84564-128-3.
• Urzelai, A., Santa Coloma, O., Aspuru, I., & García-Blanco, G. (2007). Criterios para la gestión sostenible de infraestructuras. Euskonews & Media, 332.
• Urzelai, A., Olazábal, M., García-Blanco, G., et al. (2006). Modelización de las interacciones socio-culturales, ambientales y económicas de un sistema territorial “urbano-rural” para la evaluación de la sostenibilidad de una zona representativa del País Vasco. Internacional de Sostenibilidad, Tecnología y Humanismo, nº1, 159-244. Cátedra UNESCO de Sostenibilidad. Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña.

Guides

• Guidance for the evaluation of climate change related risks (2023)
• Planes de Acción por el Clima y la Energía Sostenible en la Comunitat Valenciana: Guía metodológica (2023)
• Guidance for mainstreaming climate change into urban planning through Strategic Environmental Assessment in Andalucía (2021)
• Planning and delivering Nature-based Solutions in Mediterranean cities…Executive summary | IUCN Library System IUCN 2021
• Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions. A handbook for practitioners. Corporate author(s): Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (European Commission) Published: 2021-05-04
• Evaluation of climate change vulnerability and risks of Basque municipalities Udalsarea (2019)
• Evaluation of effectiveness and design of Nature based Solutions. Fundación Biodiversidad, (2018)
• Guidance for Navarra municipalities to adapt to climate change from  the urban planning Red NELS (2018)
• Nature based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in the Basque Country, Udalsarea (2016)
• KLIMATEC Acción LurrAdapt Climate change adaptation into spatial planning guidelines and instruments in the Basque Country, (2016).
• Guidance for the elaboration of climate change adaptation plans at local scale (OECC) Spanish Climate Change Office (2016)
• Guidance for urban planning and climate change in the Basque Country (2010)

Additionnal contents

The ESPON seminar “State of the European Territory: Digital Innovation Paving the Way for Territorial Cohesion”- Greening Europe (©ESPON, 12/2019).

El cambio: El hogar sostenible (©EITB, 11/2021).

Avance de las acciones de mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático en 7 municipios vascos (©LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050, 12/2023).

Keywords
Climate Change Adaptation, Spatial and urban planning, Resilience, Climate Proofing, Mainstreaming, Nature-based Solutions