“We must not rebuild in the places where there have been grown and where people have died. You have to sacrifice spaces and the low floors with real estate should not be habitable. The works that have been done to prevent floods, such as containment dams, should be reviewed. Jorge Olcina, Professor of Regional Geographic Analysis at the University of Alicante, star The La Nau Cultural Center.
During the beginning of his presentation, the expert used five press holders- one of them from this medium- as an example of hitch to unpack by point the need for comprehensive and effective management on extreme and natural events that are molding the forms of coexistence of society, as was the last Dana that ravaged the province of Valencia and that has already left 227 dead, or that cold drop of 2019 in the region of La Vega Baja, in Alicante, and that left three deceased and supposed the Loss of more than 1.3 billion euros.
And, according to the expert in regional geography, climate change is in a process of “special significance”, especially in the Mediterranean area, and whose public administrations “are not guaranteeing human life” with the processing of plans that do not They adapt to flood areas and in which it continues to build: “We are in a risk territory since historical time. There are now more complexities than in the 60s, such as the increase in the risk of the coast where the levels of vulnerability and heat exposure have triggered the economic development and the tourist boom with the occupation of undue spaces. In addition, from 2000, another factor is added that is the effect of climate change. We have been getting worse and the only solution is to apply complete measures with a lot of pedagogy, carry out laws and know how to communicate to citizens. ”
In this sense, Occina also expressed concern about the increase and normalization of denialist speeches, as well as the obligation to transform territorial, economic and emergency planning, together with “the management of the maritime-terrestrial and hydraulic public domain” by The effects of climate change, such as the most unequal societies and the “uncertain” environment, which contribute to the increase in warming.
The principal investigator of the group of the University of Climate and Territorial Planning said that phenomena such as the flood of October 29 will become a more common reality due to the increase in temperatures in Mediterranean waters: “The Double in 40 years that surface air, altering the intensities because sea water is warm most of the year, ”he emphasizes.
In reference to the latest IPCC report, the conclusions show that you have to develop places resilient to the weather, as the professor said. “To reduce danger, a civil work is necessary to mitigate it, as well as a planning of the territory in advance, in which civil protection, both from Europe and Spain, are working,” says the geography expert. In turn, he adds that the insurance compensation consortium system is one of the “best in the world”, and whose model serves as a guide in some countries.
“You have to rethink urban plans”
Jorge Olcina stressed that the General Urban Planning Plans (PGOU) prior to 2000 do not offer any security for society due to drift that is taking climate change and in whose models it was not contemplated. The professor advocates “paralyzing all urban plans”, an inconceivable desire in the eyes of the Mazón government, as demonstrated last November with the PP and Vox support of the possibility of building 200 meters from the coast Through an administrative simplification decree, or its insistence on continuing to urbanize land in flood areas, ignoring the warnings of experts. “Institutions must take care of social welfare. Only 1231 has urban planning after the year 2000; 623 after 2008; and only 278 after 2015, ”he says.
In similar lines, Olcina points out that urban orientation plans are “presenting danger and flood maps”, which implies a “misinterpretation of cartography”: “On the risk map there are many danger and needs technicians and specialists in this question”.
He also recalls that the Valencian Community is in a territory of “high exposure”, in which there are currently 200,000 homes in flood areas: “It is necessary that there be a synthesis -shaped cartography where these high -risk areas of flooding are reflected . In addition, there are lack of adaptation to climate change for the different economic sectors, and paralyze urban projects that contemplate building in these places ”. In addition, he insists that the weather notice has to reach the entire population, and take into account the foreign population, sending them the alert “in their language of origin”: “There are spaces that should never have been occupied and should be dislodged as soon as possible . The lives of people living in there are high risk. ”
On Decree Law 20/2024, of December 30, approved by the Consell for the reconstruction of the municipalities affected by the Dana, Olcina considers that a more holistic vision should be applied, and not only of “urban type.” “The strategic plans are very good, but when the political party that governs they run out of effect. A figure for the reconstruction of areas damaged by large accidents would have to be incorporated into the Valencian Law on Territory, which would have regulatory force to be able to develop them, regardless of the political power that would govern, ”he highlights.
#Jorge #Olcina #Professor #Regional #Geography #Dana #urban #plans #paralyzed
