The debate over responsibilities for the disaster caused by DANA which devastated the east and south of the peninsula on October 29 overshadows another, perhaps less urgent but undoubtedly decisive: this type of event will recur and There is no miracle solution to prevent or mitigate its potential damage..
A study analyzes the DANA (isolated high-level depression; what was previously called cold drop) in the Spanish Levant between 1998 and 2018 and concludes that global warming can cause a 61% increase in precipitation in the area dumped by these extreme events.
But this is not the only region of the country at risk. The same study warns that in the north of the peninsula, torrential rains can increase by up to 88%.
In other words, the management of these climatic events will be one of the great challenges of our time, because in Spain around 2.7 million people live in potentially floodable areas, according to data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MITECO) .
Expelling such a large number of people is not sustainable. “No society can, at the administrative, political or economic level, displace such a volume of population,” he stressed. Emilio Santiagoprincipal researcher at the Institute of Language, Literature and Anthropology of the High Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), during a briefing organized by the Science Media Center.
“It’s not realistic. The only realistic thing is to have a culture of emergency to minimize material and human damage. when it happens.” This culture, “which can be improved in this country, is found in other countries facing other types of disasters and includes educational processes, citizen awareness, etc.”
This also includes all environments, from education to work. “Investments must be channeled to guarantee this objective: there are countries which face hurricane seasons with very low costs in human lives.”
He also participated in the event Juan BallesterosCSIC researcher at the National Museum of Natural Sciences specializing in hydrological risks in the context of global change, who has developed solutions that are currently viable.
“The removal of houses is something complex that must be studied at the individual level and, knowing the social implications, it is an extreme measure,” he commented.
Yes, the capacity of basins to attenuate these intense rains can be improved. “We need to look for alternatives to give rivers space so they can overflow without being affected.”
No measurement is 100% reliable.
The trend, he points out, is to look for nature-based solutions “because they are more resilient but, obviously, that also involves building infrastructure that can help these solutions”.
Let us remember, however, that these adaptations cannot be considered definitive, given the increase in the intensity of these events due to climate change.
“We cannot rely 100% on mitigation or reduction measures. They will do so to some extent, but I fear that in extreme events they will not be of much use.”
The CSIC scientist believes that It is not possible to implement a real solution without involving policies that reduce fossil fuel consumption. and highlights that the speed of adaptation to changes always lags behind urban development.
The climate risks generated by global warming do not only concern housing and health infrastructure. The latest DANAs have revealed the fragility of water and food supplies.
“Extreme weather events have an immediate impact on health risks,” he stressed. Ana Allendeprofessor-researcher at CSIC and expert in food safety and water quality.
“There were numerous power outages and the products stored may have been under appropriate refrigeration conditions.” On the other hand, even if water supply tests have been showing normal readings for days, there is still a risk of leaks in other places, which is why it is always recommended to use water. Bottled water for drinking and cooking.
On another note, the expert points out that the growing areas could have been affected by flooding, the overflow of sanitation systems and have been contaminated by wastewater.
“The recommendations from a food safety perspective are that if vegetables have come into contact with contaminated water, they should be destroyed.” On the other hand, for aerial crops such as fruit trees, “a risk calculation must be made”.
The researcher stressed the importance of identifying areas likely to be flooded in order to adapt them to the cultivation of products that are not consumed raw.
Unfortunately, “this strategy is not very widespread.” Farmers base their strategy on “using containment barriers or placing their crops at a specific height” to prevent flooding. But Allende is convinced that there will still need to be a level of adaptation, “and this will be it.”
