Spain: Catalonia declares drought emergency
The Catalan government has declared a state of emergency in 200 municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area and part of Girona due to persistent drought. Water consumption in these areas is now restricted to 200 litres per person per day, while agricultural businesses must reduce their consumption by 80 percent and industry by 25 percent. Commentators call for far-reaching, coordinated measures.
A joint effort required
La Vanguardia calls for joint action:
“The water crisis afflicting half of Catalonia is not just the result of 38 months without rain, but also of a lack of investment between 2009 and 2017 and the fact that the construction of facilities such as two desalination plants, which would be crucial in the current situation, was cancelled. ... The drought is also a cause of concern for local authorities, which face sanctions but have not yet received any subsidies to finance the renovation of sewage and water supply systems. The regional government should seek agreements with the political groups and local authorities, as well as the private sector, which is the hardest hit. ... The drought is the most serious challenge Catalonia faces and will require joint efforts from everyone.”
Ten years wasted on independence dispute
For El Mundo, the issue of water shortages highlights the need for the country and its regions to work together as a united national entity:
“The years lost to separatism have caused irreparable damage and led to a situation of irreconcilable differences maintained by the Sánchez government. This impedes the trust that is necessary to tackle a common problem - Andalusia and other regions are also suffering [water shortages]. Major agreements, preventive measures and solidarity between the regions, science and technology are instruments that must not be abandoned once again because of identitarian politics.”
Rethink land use
Biologist Andreu Escrivá talks turkey in El Periódico de Catalunya:
“We need a structural change. ... We need to talk about demand, not just supply. Exporting millions of pigs, which has nothing to do with food sovereignty, means exporting many cubic hectometres of water, polluting groundwater and jeopardising water supplies. The promotion of unbridled tourism means consuming water that we do not have, including for golf courses and avocado plantations. What we can learn from this drought is not only that we need to make the most of every last drop of water, but also that we should prioritise land use in a region that is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.”