Spain moves to tighten flood‑zone building rules as climate impacts coast

Maria José Caballero, head of the coastal program at Greenpeace, says climate change has permanently altered Spain’s shoreline, rendering costly beach‑regeneration projects ineffective and urging a shift toward restoring natural ecosystems.

The Spanish government is preparing a royal decree‑law to harden construction standards in flood‑prone areas, with a focus on Asturias locations such as Arriondas, Salinas, Llanera, Oviedo, Luarca and Panes. The draft, open for public comment until 16 September, would require higher building elevations, stricter design criteria and mandatory evacuation and mitigation plans to protect thousands of residents and critical infrastructure from increasingly severe floods.