The repeated floods in Alcanar have highlighted the lack of measures to prevent these phenomena, which will increase in the face of a climate crisis scenario. The Generalitat already has several measures on the table to protect the populationbut in the Department of Climate Action They recognize that in the long term there is no magic recipe to prevent flooding caused by Torrential rains.
Mireia Boyadirector of environmental quality and climate change, suggests that in certain areas, there may be “climate refugees” in Catalonia. That is, people who have to leave their homes because they cannot assume the risk of flooding. “Always we think of something far awaywhen we talk about climate refugeesbut it is something that can be converted into real“, he warns in conversation with EL PERIÓDICO.
The Government will invest in studies, prevention measures and subsidies to town councils
It is the second time in a few months that a leader of this ‘department’ cites this expression. In June, the then ‘councillor’ Teresa Jordà related possible climate refugees to the risk who suffers Ebro deltaone of the ground zeros of the climate crisis in the Iberian Peninsula.
Before reaching this extreme situation, however, the Government will try everything, Boya assures: “The first thing we must do is minimize the effects“The Government has subsidized the municipalities, which have jurisdiction in the matter, to clean the sewage network.
Furthermore, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has invested 176,000 euros (in non-urban sections) to eliminate garbage and some vegetation that prevents the passage of water in river channels, an action that does not convince the ecological sector. Several platforms demand to stop restricting the passage of water with channeling and return the river to its natural space. This way, in the event of a flood, the flow would not decrease as quickly. They warn that buildings cannot be built in flood zones, as has been done until now.
Change neighborhood?
Boya accepts the criticism and proposes a balance harmonious between security measures and proposals for renaturation: “Our subsidies to municipalities to clean riverbeds focus on eliminating filth and invasive reeds, not native flora. It is true that the trend should be to create buffer zonesbut in some cases it is not possible because the buildings are already there.”
“The urban planning that has been practiced for decades will have to change”
Mireia Boya
And at this point appears the underlying problem, almost impossible to solve, which comes to the forefront of the media with each DANA. In Catalonia there are a large number of buildings in flood-prone areas: primary care centers, sports centers, libraries and homes… In total, as EL PERIÓDICO already announced, a fifteen% of the urban areas of Catalonia are in flood risk.
“Urban planning that has been practiced for decades did not take into account risks or climate change. It seemed that flooding was not a real danger.” Now, after a study that will begin in January, the Generalitat is considering prevent construction in certain flood-prone areas, despite the fact that they have not suffered any of these episodes for years: “There will be points where buildings should not be erected due to risks associated with climate change.” This could come into effect in areas near riversbut on the first line of the coast, the responsibility lies with the Ministry.
Non-assumable risks
The Catalan Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 2021-2030 (ECACC30) It is dedicated precisely to analyzing future risks on roads, railways and municipalities. With more data, the orders can be further refined. Civil protection (confinements, prohibition of park in streams, for example) and town councils should be forced to do good maintenance of their flood-prone areas. Currently, only a third of the municipalities at risk of flooding have the required plan.
“There may be people who are forced to change their place of residence due to the risk of flooding”
Mireia Boya
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“Another aspect that we will have to focus on is the general awareness. People must know where he lives and it will be a personal decision of the population to take the risk or not to take it,” explains Buoy. And he adds: “If you assume it, you must prepare to deal with this risk and this is where there may be people who are forced to change their place of residence because the danger level cannot be resisted“.
Consider that, sooner or later, the debate will open about which risks are manageable and which are not. “This will be the new normal,” he says. What happened in Greece could be a warning for the Administration and population to take the risk of flooding seriously.