Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
More than 200 people died during flooding that hit south-eastern Spain last week, in one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s history. Thousands have been evacuated, many are missing, and more rain is on the way.
Floodwaters have submerged entire towns in Valencia province, with large areas cut off from electricity and transport. Local authorities were criticised for warning the population too late, sending emergency text messages more than 12 hours after the national meteorological agency had issued its first red alert.
During a visit to one flood-hit town, the King of Spain was heckled by angry residents who felt the government hadn’t done enough to prepare or help. As temperatures rise, adapting to climate risks is only getting tougher.
Last week the EU Commission published a report on crisis preparedness suggesting that at least 20 per cent of the EU budget should be spent on security and climate disasters.
