Global warming and its consequences on the Iberian Peninsula

Climate change has ceased to be a distant prediction and has become a tangible reality that directly and measurably affects the Iberian Peninsula. According to data from the National Meteorological Observatory, average annual temperatures in Spain have risen by 1.7 °C compared to pre-industrial levels, an increase that far exceeds the global average of 1.1 °C. This accelerated warming manifests itself in more frequent heatwaves, increasingly prolonged drought periods and an ever more irregular rainfall pattern. Desertification is advancing at an alarming rate across the southeast of the peninsula. Regions such as Murcia, Almería and parts of Castilla-La Mancha are experiencing a progressive reduction in vegetation cover, which in turn worsens soil erosion and diminishes the terrain's capacity to retain water. Experts estimate that around 37 % of Spanish territory is at high risk of desertification, a figure that could reach 50 % within the next two decades if corrective measures are not adopted. Wildfires have become another alarming symptom of this crisis. During the summer of 2025, Spain recorded more than 90,000 hectares burned, an area equivalent to half the province of Vizcaya. These fires not only destroy valuable ecosystems but also release large quantities of carbon dioxide stored for centuries in forest biomass, creating a feedback loop that further accelerates warming. Marine biodiversity is also affected. The rise in the surface temperature of the Mediterranean — which already exceeds the historical summer average by 2 °C — causes the proliferation of invasive tropical species, alters the migratory routes of tuna and sardines, and bleaches posidonia oceanica meadows, a key ecosystem for carbon capture. Faced with this panorama, the Spanish scientific community insists on the need to act with urgency. Adaptation strategies include reforestation with drought-resistant native species, wetland restoration as natural carbon sinks and modernisation of water infrastructure to make the most of every drop of rainwater. The transition to renewable energy sources and the drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions remain the fundamental pillars for halting a trend that, if it continues, will irreversibly transform the landscape and life in Spain.