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When walking around Barcelona currently, one cannot overlook the advertisements featuring a red plastic bucket and the phrase “Water doesn’t fall from the sky” (l’aigua no cau del cel in Catalan). This advertising campaign aims to encourage water conservation. As of February, Barcelona and 200 other municipalities in Catalonia have declared a state of drought emergency. This has resulted in restrictions for over 6 million residents in the region, including limits on daily water usage per person. As a result, parks are not being watered, fountains are not running, and showers at swimming pools and beaches are closed. Additionally, farmers are facing fines if they do not reduce their water consumption for crops and livestock.

The entire Spanish Mediterranean coast is currently experiencing severe drought, as shown on the European Drought Observatory’s map. The region is comparable to north Africa and Sicily, with red areas indicating a high level of alert. While Catalonia may be facing the worst drought on record, Andalucía has been dealing with drought conditions since 2016. In fact, Spain’s droughts were among the top 10 most expensive climate disasters in the world last year, according to a report from Christian Aid.

The continent of Europe is experiencing a warming trend that is twice as fast as other continents. This is not just a theoretical concern for Spain, as the effects of climate change have already had a tangible impact on people’s lives. High temperatures have forced individuals to limit their time outdoors in order to avoid heatstroke, which can be fatal for workers on city streets and farms. In response, hotels are filling their swimming pools with seawater and anxiously anticipating what the next season will bring. Meanwhile, farmers are being forced to discard entire fruit crops in order to conserve water and protect their trees. Severe heatwaves have also greatly affected the production of olive oil, while almond growers are concerned about early flowering caused by the warmest January on record, which could once again damage their harvest.

The discomfort of farmers who are blocking roads and protesting in Spanish cities can be attributed to uncertainty surrounding crop production, prices, and water supply. This unease has been sparked by similar actions taken by farmers in France, Belgium, and Germany. In addition to the current shortage of water, these farmers are also voicing their grievances about various challenges they face, from excessive paperwork to unfair competition from non-EU countries with lower environmental and health regulations, as well as strict requirements for funding. Interestingly, these protests are also aimed at addressing the negative impact of agriculture on the environment and breaking a cycle that ultimately harms farmers as well.

It is evident that these conflicts could be taken advantage of by populist parties, especially those on the extreme right. Established politicians are criticized for frequently prioritizing partisan agendas and engaging in power struggles to ensure their own continuation.

During the declaration of the drought emergency in Catalonia, it was noticeable to observe the Spanish government and politicians being consumed in lengthy debates over an amnesty law for individuals involved in an unofficial independence referendum in Catalonia in 2017. It is understandable that everyday citizens may feel that there are more urgent matters at hand.

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It’s not accurate to caricature all farmers as victims or far-right stooges and to suggest they have no agency. Their unease is real – and it presents an opportunity that unscrupulous leaders can exploit.

The rise of politicization surrounding issues such as the climate crisis and tensions between major cities and shrinking Spanish regions has been observed. According to Sandra León, a political science professor and director of the Carlos III-Juan March Institute, her research team has seen a growing opposition towards climate policies, especially among men. However, León points out that the climate crisis and urban-rural tensions are still evolving issues in Spain and have not yet solidified. This provides an opportunity for both political manipulation and promoting understanding, as people have not formed strong opinions on these topics.

According to León, the far-right group Vox and other populists have the potential to dominate these discussions. However, there is also a possibility for “spaces of comprehension” to arise, as these topics are not yet as divided as others. This will necessitate considerable effort from mainstream politicians, particularly those in the opposition who may be inclined to use climate denialism as a tactic.

In Spain, action towards adapting to the climate crisis is already underway due to the lack of alternatives. However, a large portion of this adaptation is impromptu and typically occurs only after the worst outcomes have already occurred.

Leaders in politics have a responsibility to prioritize those who are most susceptible to the uncertainties of climate change and may have complaints about proposed measures to assist them. While certain regions of Spain may lack access to water, it is important to recognize that solutions will not simply appear from thin air, despite any promises made by manipulative politicians.

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  María Ramírez serves as a journalist and also holds the position of deputy managing editor for elDiario.es, a Spanish news publication.

Source: theguardian.com