Algarve has to start adapting to climate change – «and fast!»

CIMA researchers helped to prepare the Intermunicipal Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Algarve and warned of the urgency of the political decision

The diagnosis has been made and there is a map drawn up for the adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change in the Algarve. Now, it is urgent to "decide what we want for our future", in order to face the "climate emergency" we are facing.

The Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA) of the University of Algarve was one of the entities that contributed to the elaboration of the Intermunicipal Adaptation Plan to Climate Change in the Algarve and then in one of the most sensitive areas, that of coastal erosion and the rise in the average sea level.

It was CIMA researchers Susana Costas, Rita Carrasco and Isabel Mendes, coordinated by Cristina Veiga-Pires, who pointed out the ways of adaptation in this sector, the operational part of the plan commissioned by AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community, that can be downloaded here.

For this, they had to carry out studies and anticipate various scenarios, some more optimistic, others less and even a very pessimistic one. Unfortunately, everything indicates that this is what will happen, which will take, for example, the one that in 2100, what is now Praia de Faro can stay under water and the sea reaches the second row of buildings in Quarteira.

“We are, in fact, facing a climate emergency. The data show that climate change is already of some importance and importance. CIMA entered into this Inter-municipal Adaptation Plan to Climate Change in the Algarve because it has specialists in coastal erosion and coastal variation, as well as studies on the Algarve's medium/long term evolution in this area», framed Cristina Veiga-Pires, during an interview that the Sul Informação made to the team at the Algarve research center who contributed to the drafting of the document.

«With the natural limitation of the models we used – this was not a research work, it was an applied work – the areas where we realize that there may be dramatic problems are places that already have problems today, with special emphasis on Quarteira and Praia de Faro», said, for her part, Susana Costas.

In other words, «the evil is already there. The big question now is to understand how we will manage to live with these problems, bearing in mind that things are still going to get worse».

Part of what CIMA researchers were asked was to come up with solutions.

In this way, adaptation paths are identified in the plan and there are monetary, environmental and social values ​​associated with the different options.

 

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Policy makers thus have the possibility to make a choice. “There are a series of coastal management measures and, depending on the cost, duration and effectiveness, they can decide which way to go”, summarized Rita Carrasco.

Now, the most important thing “is that this commitment that is being assumed by political decision makers go forward and fast!”, believes Rita Carrasco.

“This is the time to decide. We have to make choices and understand what will be the sustainable measures and to what extent the environment, the social and the economy can go hand in hand. Do we want to continue living in these places and do we have the money for it or not? Sul Informação, Susana Costas.

Achieving a balance between these three sectors “is very important”, but in some cases it may not be possible.

“Unfortunately, I don't know if we can keep trying to save the environment, society and the economy at the same time. The climatic emergency, the rising of the sea level, the coastal erosion make, probably, one has to be left aside», considered Cristina Veiga-Pires.

“We are researchers and not in the area of ​​economics. For me, it makes sense to think that the economy cannot always be growing and that we will have to cut back in this area”, added the team coordinator.

It is certain that there are signs from the political class that there is an interest in doing something for me – starting with the commissioning of this plan which «is not just a diagnosis, it is also a document for action».

 

 

“One of the strengths of this plan is that it doesn't stop with paper. There is a political commitment to at least try to do something that will address the problems that have been identified. AMAL has had a fundamental role, because it has managed to ensure that the technicians of the Chambers have training and that the presidents of the local authorities have the availability to participate, discuss and put this plan into action,” said Rita Carrasco.

The CIMA researcher says she left the meetings held with the stakeholders “a little more lively, because the economy was not the most valued thing. There was a strong focus on the environment».

In these meetings, in which political decision makers and representatives of associations participated, as well as technicians from local authorities and citizens, CIMA researchers felt “that everyone was trying to reach consensus, that everyone was committed to finding solutions. Everyone said: something has to be done».

On the other hand, «the fact of being faced with the paths of adaptation, with the explanation of what each one implies», led people «to understand the decisions that have to be taken».

It is true that “we are not talking about something hypothetical”, but something that “is happening. This is not a question of faith, it is not a question of believing or not in climate change. We have to decide what we want for our future».

And that is everyone's responsibility.

“It's important to remind people that it's not because the climate summit is taking place in the United States that the issue doesn't touch us anymore. There are also problems here and we also have to act», concluded Cristina Veiga-Pires.

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