The fifth edition of the International Climate Action Congress (CIACC 2026), organized by the Ibero-American University Foundation (FUNIBER), the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), and the Business and Climate Foundation (FEC), concluded after bringing together international experts who analyzed some of the main challenges of the climate transition, such as energy security, carbon markets, and the sustainable management of strategic resources.
Following a first day dedicated to analyzing climate risks for businesses, the evolution of the European regulatory framework on sustainability, and the potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate the green transition, the conference concluded its program with three new sessions focused on decarbonization and energy security, the circular economy as it applies to strategic materials, and the consolidation of reliable carbon markets. The conference brought together researchers, institutional representatives, and professionals from the business sector, cementing CIACC’s role as an international forum for knowledge exchange and cooperation in addressing the challenges of climate change.
Decarbonization and Energy Security
The fourth session of the conference was dedicated to decarbonization and energy security, two areas closely linked in the transition toward a more sustainable energy model. The session addressed the main challenges of European energy policy, including security of supply, economic competitiveness, energy dependence, and the role of different generation sources in advancing toward a decarbonized system.
The session began with a keynote presentation by Professor Aleh Cherp, a faculty member at Central European University and Lund University (Sweden), as well as lead author of the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This was followed by a roundtable discussion featuring Franc Comino, CEO of Sonnen España; Mario Grosso, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Milan Polytechnic; Sergio Rojas, research professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC); and Esther Zorzano, a consultant specializing in the energy sector, who analyzed the challenges Europe faces in reconciling decarbonization with a secure and competitive energy supply.
Strategic Materials and the Circular Economy
The fifth session focused on the availability and circularity of strategic materials, which are essential for the development of clean technologies and the energy transition. The experts highlighted the need to strengthen supply chains and promote circular economy models that extend the useful life of these resources through reuse and recycling.
The keynote presentations were delivered by Virginia Rodríguez, Project Manager at the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), and Miquel Rovira, Director of the Sustainability Division at Eurecat. Following that, María José Jurado, a geologist at Geociencias Barcelona (GEO3BCN); Carmen López-Quintana, manager of the Catalonia Waste Cluster; María Salamero, Head of Sustainability at the CELSA Group; and Dr. Vanessa Tabernero, professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Alcalá, shared different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities posed by the implementation of circular models for the use of strategic materials.
Reliable Carbon Markets
The sixth and final session of CIACC 2026 was dedicated to the role of standards and certification systems in carbon markets. Participants agreed that robust and independent verification mechanisms are essential to guarantee the quality, transparency, and credibility of carbon projects, as well as to ensure that investments aimed at mitigating climate change generate verifiable environmental and social benefits.
The session began with a keynote address by Josep Garriga, an expert on climate change. Next, Mark C. Lewis, partner and CEO of Climate Finance Partners LLC, and Kayleigh Crabb, a researcher at the Center for the Implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, participated in a roundtable discussion in which they analyzed the evolution of these mechanisms and their contribution to strengthening international climate action.
Closing of the Conference
The conference concluded with an official ceremony attended by Dr. Santos Gracia Villar, president of FUNIBER; Dr. Rubén Calderón, rector of UNEATLANTICO; Dr. Elvira Carles, director of the Fundación Empresa y Clima; and Eloy Planes, executive president of FLUIDRA, one of the event’s sponsors.
During his remarks, Eloy Planes highlighted the value of CIACC as a forum for reflection and foresight to address major challenges before they become urgent. In this regard, he stated that the conference’s goal is “to bring these issues to the table before they become obvious to everyone” and “to open the conversation before it becomes inevitable,” emphasizing that this ability to anticipate allows companies and institutions to prepare more effectively for future changes. He also concluded by noting that “this conference helps us precisely to broaden our perspective before reality forces us to do so in a hurry.”
With the holding of this fifth edition of the International Climate Action Congress, FUNIBER reaffirms its commitment to creating international spaces for dialogue, training, and knowledge transfer that strengthen cooperation among universities, the scientific community, public institutions, and the business sector. Through initiatives such as the CIACC, the Foundation continues to promote the exchange of experiences and the search for collaborative solutions to address environmental challenges and move toward more sustainable development.