by Montgat, Spain (AP) – Ana García rents a hut on a beach north of Barcelona every year and spends two months with her daughter in the summer. But García fears Summers by the sea in Montgat, about 30 minutes from Central Barcelona, could finally be counted.
Storms and the increase in sea level through climate change erode the artificial beaches in the cities of Barcelona, with the sea swapping the coastal swaths every year, according to the authorities. Compared to natural coasts, artificial beaches are undermined faster. The Montgat coast quickly eroded, say locals and authorities.
“This is clearly worrying,” said García. “Because it increases more and more and shows no signs of stopping. Our living together with the sea here is in danger.”
From the fishing city to the summer place
The fishing city, which has become summery, is no stranger to change. Fishing was once the most important economic activity in the “Maresme” or Marslands north of Barcelona, but everything changed in 1986 when Spain’s second largest city in 1992 was appointed host of the 1992 Olympic Games.
Where there were only rocks, breakwaters and thin sand sections, several new beaches were built, which contributed to transforming the city into one of the leading tourism hotspots in Europe.
Climate change threatens that the transformation in small coastal cities such as Montgat intensifies by intensification of storms that undermine the coast and undermine the increase in sea level.
While the authorities reacted by replacing the lost sand and building up some breakwaters, the efforts did not keep up with the erosion of the coast.
Ramon Torra, Manager of Barcelonas Metropolitan Area, acknowledges that simple adding of more sand is not sufficient.
“What we have to do first is not only to fill up the sand, but to stop the loss of it,” said Torra. “In the case of the” Maresme “region” here we talk about structures such as breakwaters because they restrict the beach. “
When storms undermine the coast
Europe is the fastest heating control in the world, with the temperatures, according to the Copernicus climate change of the European Union, increasing twice as quickly as the global average since the 1980s.
When the planet heats up, the sea level increases largely due to the melting of glaciers and the thermal expansion of the sea water when it gets warmer. This increases the risk of flooding on coasts and storm surfaces that lead to land loss.
In Montgat and in the nearby beaches, the main damage takes place in autumn and winter when destructive weather systems, which are known locally by the Spanish acronym Dana, bring strong storms to southern Europe.
The storms have triggered the Montgat coast on the coast in recent years. In April 2024, a storm system brought waves that rose up to 5 meters high and on the left parts of Montgat practically without a beach. Afterwards a series of rocks that served as a wave breaker were built after the waves reached a number of beach houses.
The mayor of Montgat, Andru Absil, believes that only a third of the beach survived from a year ago. He emphasized the importance of the beach for locals.
“The beaches are the last democratic space we have,” said Absil. “And you should be all year round for all of us.”
Locals, scientists and business owners are concerned about the future
The authorities in Barcelona estimate that 60 million euros (70.2 million US dollars) are required to stabilize the coast in the cities of 42 kilometers (26 miles) coastline, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) such as Montgat. Add the annual maintenance costs after storms.
Scientists say that the biggest problem will occur when the sea reaches the city’s infrastructure, including the train line, houses and companies.
The rate of the increase in sea level means more loss, say academics.
Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, a maritime engineer at the Catalonia of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said the current trends show that the sea level along the Catalan coast is now four times higher than three decades ago. He said it had risen by 14 centimeters in 25 years, while the waves are 30 centimeters higher.
“So we do not have to predict that it will accelerate. We can say that it has been multiplied by four since the 1990s,” he said, adding that he believes that the time for adapting the climate is now. These measures include the construction of sea walls, planting vegetation as a barrier for the sea and much more.
Local business owners in the city are dependent on summer tourism and fear what could take on if the sea builds more sand. Those who come year after year for fresh seafood and cold beer share concern.
José Luís Vélez, a pensioner, has been coming to the same beach bar for years after he has witnessed the changes that Montgat was subjected to after the Olympic Games in 92 in the 92 and his coast.
“It was great, but the sea started to undermine all of the sand. And we don’t see any people who really do anything about it. So we believe that this could have an expiry date,” said Vélez.
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Naishadham reported by Madrid.
