ASOCIACION BC3 BASQUE CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE - KLIMA ALDAKETA IKERGAI

Their core work

BC3 is a Basque Country-based research centre dedicated to understanding and responding to climate change across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. They build integrated assessment models that connect energy systems, economies, and ecosystems to evaluate decarbonization pathways and climate policy impacts. Their applied work spans freshwater and marine ecosystem management, food system sustainability, and the distributional effects of climate policies on different socio-economic groups. They bridge climate science and policy by co-designing knowledge with decision-makers and assessing real-world costs of climate inaction and adaptation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), BC3 focused broadly on climate resilience, biodiversity policy, and adaptation cost-benefit analysis, with projects like TRANSrisk, AQUACROSS, and RESIN exploring ecosystem-level responses to climate change. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward integrated assessment modelling for decarbonization policy (LOCOMOTION, PARIS REINFORCE, NDC ASPECTS) and the social equity dimensions of climate transitions (CHANCE). Their most recent projects also show growing attention to food-land-water nexus questions, connecting environmental modelling with agricultural and trade systems (GIFTS, HoliSoils, UNTWIST).

BC3 is moving from descriptive climate impact research toward prescriptive policy modelling — expect them to seek partnerships on energy transition scenarios, just-transition frameworks, and food-water-climate nexus analysis.

How they like to work

BC3 operates primarily as an active research partner (16 of 22 projects), but has demonstrated coordination capability on 5 projects, typically MSCA fellowships or focused research actions under EUR 250K. They work in large, diverse consortia — 262 unique partners across 44 countries — suggesting they integrate well into multi-institutional teams rather than leading mega-projects. Their wide partner network and geographic spread indicate they are a trusted contributor that multiple consortium leaders actively seek out.

BC3 has collaborated with 262 unique partners across 44 countries, making them one of the most broadly networked climate research centres in Southern Europe. Their reach extends well beyond the EU into global partnerships, reflecting the inherently international nature of climate policy research.

What sets them apart

BC3 occupies a distinctive niche at the intersection of climate science, economic modelling, and social equity — a combination rarely found in a single centre. While many climate institutes focus on physical science or engineering solutions, BC3 brings the socio-economic lens: who pays, who benefits, and how to design fair transitions. Their location in the Basque Country also gives them practical experience with industrial regions navigating decarbonization, adding real-world grounding to their modelling work.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TRANSrisk
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 797K) and a flagship project on transition risk analysis combining climate mitigation with adaptation cost-benefit frameworks.
• PARIS REINFORCE
  High-profile project (EUR 767K) directly supporting the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake through integrated assessment modelling — strong policy visibility.
• UNTWIST
  Coordinator role applying AI to the water-energy-food nexus using ecosystem services — signals BC3's move into computational methods and cross-domain integration.