Catalonia climate adaptation and disaster prevention

Authorities in Catalonia are implementing various measures to mitigate risks from extreme weather, specifically wildfires and flooding.

To combat wildfire threats, the Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) is expanding perimeter safety strips in Corbera de Llobregat, widening them from 25 to up to 50 meters in certain residential areas to reduce vegetation density and improve emergency access. Experts from the Institute of Forest Sciences (ICIFOR) have noted that fire intensification is driven by climate change and the abandonment of rural territories, suggesting a need for strategies centered on coexistence with fire rather than just suppression.

In response to flooding risks following storm Alice, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has invested approximately 900,000 euros to complete 18 emergency actions in the Montsià and Baix Ebre regions. These works focused on repairing ravines and river sections in municipalities including Tortosa, Amposta, and Ulldecona. While emergency repairs to drainage and riverbanks are finished, structural studies are being drafted to address long-term flood risks in urban spaces.