Climate change produces annual losses of 550 million

According to a report prepared by the agricultural organization COAG

6% of the value of Spanish agricultural production, more than 550 million euros, is lost every year in Spain as a result of climate change, according to a report prepared by the agricultural organization COAG, which warns that an average increase in temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius by 2050 would exponentially increase the amount of the “climate bill” and may put at risk the viability of crops such as vineyards, olive oil or cereal.

The study ‘The countdown begins. Impacts of climate change on Spanish agriculture’ has been carried out by the head of the department of agricultural risks of COAG, Pablo Resco, who has presented on Monday the most relevant results of his years of research based on scientific literature on the effects on the Spanish field of global warming.

The consequences

Specifically, it estimates that in this scenario of average thermal increase the area of high-quality vineyards would be reduced by 20%; the yield of wheat in the center and south of the Peninsula by 15% and in the case of the olive grove, only the picual variety could maintain rainfed yields in the interior areas of cultivation.

On the other hand, it calculates an 11% decrease in water resources if 2ºC of warming is reached and this will also contribute to raising the incidence of pests and diseases, which can increase by up to 60 percent the current losses in the case of wheat cultivation. The report also warns that holm oak pastures could even disappear in large areas of the southern half of the peninsula.

The study presented by COAG specifies that more than 10% of the most suitable surface for quality wines in all of Spain and 80% of the surface of olive varieties such as hojiblanca or manzanilla in Andalusia could be lost; wheat yields in Spain could also fall by around 8%.

Climate change

In addition, in the scenario of an increase of 2°C, the damage could be very serious and the oak pastures in the western part of Andalusia or Extremadura could be endangered; the yield of cereals such as wheat could fall by more than 15 per cent in some regions; the area of high-quality vineyards could be reduced by 20 per cent; and in the case of the olive grove, only the picual variety could maintain rainfed yields in the inland areas of cultivation.

However, from a heating of 2.5°C, even the yield of this variety would suffer significantly without water inputs; In addition, the oak pastures could disappear in large areas of the southern half.

The report reflects that decades of increase in greenhouse gas emissions already make visible the effects of climate change and ensures that the agri-food sector, one of the most important in Spain would be “one of the most affected, due to its high dependence on the climate”.

Associated losses

On the other hand, he adds that the greatest losses will be associated with the increase in water stress of crops due to the increase in evapotranspiration, the increase in temperatures and the decrease in rainfall. In fact, this decrease would be accompanied by a higher frequency of droughts, up to 5 and 10 times higher if they exceed 1.5 or 2°C.

In addition, the rains would be more intense, which would generate erosion, and would be concentrated in times such as autumn, so the water would be less usable by crops.

During the presentation, the head of Trade Union Action at COAG, Andoni García, stressed that understanding the consequences of climate risks is the basis for developing strategies for the prevention of climate change and protection of the agricultural world, based on financing and regional, national and community policies.

“Taking urgent action today to keep warming below 1.5°C is more efficient and less expensive. The prevention of climate change, therefore, will not only help us protect our agriculture and economy, but will also make an eternal summer not dry up our gastronomy, traditions, culture and identity,” he said.

The real risk

For his part, the author of the study Pablo Resco has insisted that although there are adaptation measures that could cushion part of the impact, these have a limited capacity that could be exceeded if there is no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally and in all sectors.

Finally, he has predicted that the agricultural insurance sector, which he has defined as “one of the key pieces” of agricultural policy in Spain, could have “difficulties” to offer affordable coverage due to the increase in risk. He said that this aspect has been evidenced in the last two campaigns “given the magnitude” of adverse and extreme climatic phenomena that have affected agriculture.

Source: The Energy Newspaper