Spain faces critical climate crisis and desertification risks

Spain faces a critical ecological and economic crossroads as it confronts significant risks of desertification. According to scientists Emilio Santiago of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Héctor Tejero from the Ministry of Health, the country is warming faster than the European average, placing it at the center of the European climate crisis.

Approximately 74% to 75% of Spanish territory is at risk of desertification, a process involving the loss of fertile soil productivity and biodiversity. This degradation is driven by climate change, water overexploitation, intensive agriculture, wildfires, and rural abandonment. Data from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) indicates that Spain's average temperature has risen by 1.75°C since 1961.

The authors of the essay ‘Spain Against the Desert’ argue that this environmental decline translates directly into economic and social instability, including reduced agricultural productivity, increased disaster costs, and threats to tourism and habitability. However, they suggest that Spain possesses the geographic and social conditions to lead in renewable energy and regenerative agriculture, potentially turning climate adaptation into a driver for prosperity.