Strategic guidelines on water and climate change

The "Strategic Guidelines on Water and Climate Change" outline Spain's approach to integrating water management with climate change adaptation. Article 19 of the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law emphasises the need for water planning and management to ensure water security for people, biodiversity, and socioeconomic activities while reducing vulnerability to climate change. This is achieved by prioritising ecological flow regimes as a precondition rather than a competing use of water, aligning with hydrological plans, and adhering to the forthcoming "Water Strategy for Ecological Transition”. Spain faces significant challenges due to its diverse hydrological systems, exacerbated by irregular rainfall, droughts, and flooding. Key priorities include enhancing wastewater treatment infrastructure to meet EU standards, addressing overexploitation and contamination of groundwater, and adapting water resources to climate risks such as altered flow regimes, rising temperatures, and sea-level rise. Strategic actions of this policy include advancing hydrological planning for 2022-2027, fostering sustainable water use, promoting renewable energy in water systems, restoring aquatic ecosystems, and modernizing monitoring technologies. Spain also aims to strengthen its international role in water governance through partnerships and alignment with global and EU environmental objectives.