Spain is 'ground zero' for climate change in Europe, WWF CEO says

Spain is ground zero for climate change in Europe and the Doñana Nature Reserve, which is at the center of a political dispute, is an "innocent victim" of the fight, WWF-Spain Secretary General Juan Carlos del Olmo told EURACTIV's partner EuroEFE in an interview. Del Olmo recalled that "Doñana is a European matter that affects everyone, not only because it is protected by European laws, but also because the European fauna and biodiversity and above all the birds of many European countries depend on Doñana to have water and it will be preserved so that the birds can hibernate on their way to Africa during migration”. The issue has become highly politicized and has entered the debate ahead of the Spanish regional and municipal elections scheduled for May 28 and before the general elections in December. The European Commission on Monday criticized the Doñana Irrigation Bill submitted by the regional government of Andalusia, saying the text goes "in the opposite direction" to the obligation to protect the natural reserve and "could degrade the wetlands". "The Andalusian government took a completely unilateral decision because this is a matter that only concerns the local level. But he is very seriously wrong, which is why the European Commission had to intervene as well," emphasizes the Spanish scientist. The dispute started around 2010, when WWF-Spain complained to the European Commission about the catastrophic situation in Doñana: "This led after a few years to the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ), which condemned Spain for the situation in the wetlands", explains the expert. "Brussels had to intervene against the decision of the ECJ, which is not followed, and with the decision of the PP, Vox and the Junta, the critical situation in which Doñana finds itself is getting worse," he warns. According to Del Olmo, "pure political pre-election campaigning is being done" with a very serious issue that concerns not only Spain, but also the entire EU. "Spain is at 'ground zero' of climate change in Spain and Doñana is its innocent victim," he says. "What the Commission is doing now - for the third time since 2022, when the PP approved a similar measure that was later withdrawn - is very seriously warning that they consider the draft law presented by the Junta de Andalucía to be a mockery. Because instead of concrete measures to save Doñana, they are worsening its degradation and destruction," warns the expert. According to Del Olmo, the answer to the cause of the current situation is the proximity of regional and general elections. “Why is this (the bill) being done now if the problem has been going on for so long? This is being done because there are five city councils in play in the Doñana area, where the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) currently governs. It is a purely electoral proposal to get the votes of illegal (irrigation operators) in particular," he emphasizes. "Doñana became a hostage, a political tool. And because of this pre-election strategy, Spain is facing huge international discredit," he adds. "I think that in the end the government will have to appeal the law in the courts and we will spend several years in litigation, losing precious time to save Doñana," laments Del Olmo. (Fernando Heller, EuroEFE.EURACTIV.es)