Spain | Water emergency

Summary

Spain is facing increasing water stress as a result of climate change. Droughts are lasting longer, rainfalls are getting heavier, heatwaves are more frequent and wildfires are more destructive.

Key points

• Key points:
• All this is taking a serious toll on rivers, reservoirs and aquifers, threatening not only the balance of natural ecosystems, but also the activity of key economic sectors such as agriculture, energy and tourism.
• The core issue lies in the country’s intensive use and the lack of sustainable water management. In 2022, 77% of the extracted water was used for agriculture, much of it in areas exposed to severe water stress.
• In addition, much of Spain's water infrastructure is showing signs of aging, with losses due to leaks, lack of digitalization and limited storage capacity.
• In response to this situation, the European Union has presented its new Water Resilience Strategy, a roadmap with a 2030 horizon that aims to ensure sustainable access to water for people, the economy and ecosystems.
• Spain must triple its current level of water investment management to ensure water resilience. According to a recent study by BBVA Research, an annual investment of at least 6 billion euros will be required over the next decade.

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