On the other side of the border, the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, expressed on Wednesday his “concern“in the face of this situation, assuring that the government would take”the necessary measures according to the evolution of the situation“.
The levels of water reservoirs, the supply of which is essential for agriculture, are currently at less than 45% of their capacity in Spain, according to the authorities of this country, the regions most affected being Andalusia (south) and Catalonia (northeast).
This low rainfall, which has lasted since the end of last year, worries farmers and herders in both countries.
No improvement in sight
The alternation between dry years and rainy years is normal in southern Europe, but “we observe a decrease in the percentage of rainy years lately“, underlines Filipe Duarte Santos, researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon and specialist in the environment, who points the finger at global warming.
These droughts areone of the most serious consequences of climate change“, he explains. According to him, “until global greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced, the problem will continue to arise“.