The development of adaptation policies to climate change at the local level is not simple.
The local administration is where more interests and conflicts come together, more so in
municipalities with a tourist vocation. In this study we will analyze the knowledge that
technicians of tourist municipalities of the Mediterranean coast have on climate change
and the adaptation measures adopted at the moment by five climate risks; and also, we
will search for stimulus or barriers during the process of adaptation. The chosen
municipalities of the Costa Brava are representative of its geographical, socioeconomical
and environmental diversity (Blanes, Castell-Platja d'Aro, Colera, Lloret de Mar, Portbou,
Roses and Torroella de Montgrí-l'Estartit). The five analyzed climatic risks in question are
sea flooding and storm surges, rising sea levels and coastal erosion, rising temperatures
and heat waves, dry lands, water shortages and forest fires. In order to analyze the
problem, a mixed methodology has been used through questionnaires and Focus Groups
with all the municipal technicians.
The results have shown that the recent impact of extreme climatic episodes is one of the
most important factors for considering which risks are the most alarming. In
consequence, drought and water shortage has been the highest ranked risk fort current
consequences and for future consequences. To combat the impacts of the various risks,
structural actions predominate, as the paradigm began to change with the incorporation
of nature-based solutions (SbN).
Regarding the stimulus and barriers, it has been detected that these vary municipally
depending on multiple factors (technician’s ability to act, territorial reality…), although
common patterns have been detected. For the water hazards predominate the available
knowledge and the values or sense of the urgency of those responsible. On the other
hand, factors related to resources and coordination between actors appear more
transversally across all environmental risks. It has also been observed that more factors
are detected in the environmental risks of the dry lands, water shortages and the forest
fires
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