Mallorca, like other islands in the Mediterranean, is on the front line. The islands are very vulnerable to rising sea levels. Sea levels are rising for two reasons: firstly, because of the increase in temperature of the Mediterranean Sea, since water, like all bodies that heat up, expands, and secondly, because of the melting of glaciers. Rising sea levels represent a growing threat to coastal infrastructures, wetlands and beaches, which are major tourist attractions. And the higher the sea level, the more salt water penetrates into the water tables, which has an impact on agriculture. Finally, Mallorca is dependent on the outside world for its supplies, particularly of fossil fuels. Another important impact of climate change in the Balearics is the increase in frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which in 2022 caused 60.000 premature deaths in Europe, and 70.000 in 2023.
The effects are not just theoretical, they are already being felt: The island is facing increasing water stress as a result of reduced rainfall and increased evapotranspiration. The coasts are vulnerable to erosion and storms, and marine ecosystems, such as Posidonia meadows, are threatened by warming waters. The big storms that we call Cap de Fiblo here, which used to occur from time to time, will now be much harder, more frequent and will cause more damage. We're going to have more violent and more concentrated rainfall. This will have an impact on air and sea transport. What happens if, for example, ships can't resupply the island?
Posidonia, a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean, plays a crucial role. It stabilises the seabed and protects coastlines from erosion. It harbours a rich marine biodiversity and is a breeding ground for many species. It sequesters large quantities of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. But when water temperatures reach 28°C, the seagrass dies. Scientific projections say that if we continue at the same rate, in 60 years there will be no more Posidonia and therefore no more beaches. The disappearance of Posidonia would have disastrous consequences: increased coastal erosion, loss of biodiversity, and the release of stored carbon, exacerbating global warming. Without Posidonia, the effects of storms would be even worse, with waves crashing over buildings as we saw during the ‘Gloria’ storm, in January 2020.
60% of CO2 emissions in the Balearic Islands are linked to transport: planes, boats and cars. These emissions have not fallen, quite the contrary. In 2023, we emitted between 11,000 and 12,000 kilotonnes of CO2, compared with 6,000 kilotonnes in 1990. The only emissions that have fallen are those linked to electricity, because we have more solar energy. Climate change is here to stay: it is becoming more and more serious as emissions continue. It takes 20 years from the time of emissions to the time when their consequences become apparent. What we are experiencing now is linked to emissions from 2005. We need to act quickly, because everything we emit today will be felt in 20 years' time. The greater the concentration of emissions, the more serious the consequences will be, as we saw in Valencia. The terrible floods in Valencia last year are a sad illustration of the threats posed by extreme weather events and ought to be a wake up call for all governments and corporations to speed up climate action.
Yes, it could. But what's crazy is that even after the Valencia flood, the regional government of the Balearics wanted to change the law to allow houses to be built in flood-prone areas. They abandoned this project after much protest by the scientific sector and civil society, but it shows the extent to which public institutions and also the private sector have lost touch with the reality of climate change. They often see climate action as a problem, when in fact we are in an emergency, it is imperative to act not just to save the planet, but to save ourselves.
Firstly, by reducing the use of private cars, promoting public transport and active mobility, walking and cycling and also switching to electric cars when such a vehicle is really needed. As far as air travel is concerned, we have to stop kidding ourselves - there is no green alternative. Let's start with Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, for example, and ban private jets because they generate the fewest social benefits. Instead of favouring air connections with the United States or with destinations far away that emit much more, we could favour destinations closer to home, and avoid visitors coming for just a weekend by encouraging longer stays.
In 2019, the Climate Change Act was approved. We were ahead of Spain and even Europe. It enabled us to close the Es Murterar coal-fired power station and develop solar energy. The law stipulated that all private and public car parks of between 1,000 and 1,500 metres should be covered with solar panels, banned the use of diesel-powered vehicles and promoted local production to reduce emissions from transport and make the economy more resilient and diversified. All these measures have been scaled back. The law also set a target of reducing CO2 emissions in 2030 by 40% compared with 1990 levels. In 1990 we emitted around 6,000 kilotonnes of CO2, so by 2030 we should be emitting around 4,000. Instead, we are currently emitting around 11.000 kilotonnes of CO2. That's a long way off. With this law, we weren't doing enough, but we were moving in the right direction. Now we're going backwards. It's disappointing and irresponsible.
The climate emergency is real, and the consequences are already visible. We need to act collectively, at every level. We need to make a rapid and profound ecological transition, by rethinking our production and consumption patterns. Solidarity and cooperation are essential if we are to meet this global challenge. And the most important take away message: acting on climate change is not only essential to protect ourselves but will also clearly improve our quality of life and make our societies stronger, fairer and more resilient.
