Media reports criticize the government’s failure to adequately prepare for and respond to the floods in Valencia. Dismantling of the Valencian Emergency Forceresulting in delays in disaster response.
These criticisms are valid, but they miss the heart of the issue. Paving over forests to expand cities, draining coastal wetlands to build gasoline factories, and allowing intensive agriculture to pollute and destroy rivers, as has happened in Valencia in recent decades. When we put the final nail in nature’s coffin. result? Abnormal weather conditions will add fuel to the fire.
holistic
Europe’s recent floods offer a painful lesson. Yes, the fight against climate change is non-negotiable. However, thinking of climate action simply as a matter of emissions ignores the importance of natural ecosystems in mitigation and adaptation.
The collapse of local ecosystems and the subsequent disruption of weather patterns on a regional scale is as significant as rising global temperatures. Recent floods in Europe demonstrate that without healthy natural ecosystems, the resilience of entire regions and the communities that depend on them is compromised.
This solution is a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of climate, ecosystems, and society. This is where natural recovery becomes important.
Now more than ever, we need communities to take the lead in restoring natural ecosystems, reconnecting fragmented habitats, revitalizing important natural areas like wetlands, and ensuring that human development is aligned with nature. We need to work in harmony with nature rather than against it.
Let me be clear: not all human development is bad. All we need to do is make our cities, towns and factories more inclusive of nature, and give the forests, wetlands and coral reefs that ultimately support our society enough breathing room.
as Milan himself emphasized this. “Development needs to be done in the right way: with minimal disruption to the water cycle; […] Make long-term investments to restore your system. ”We need to look at the big picture, just like Milan.
this author
Lily Maxwell Lewin is Director of Advocacy and Engagement at Common Land, a global nonprofit organization that helps local communities restore landscapes and rebuild food systems at scale. Trained in urban planning, she has a background in urban sustainability issues and has experience working in a variety of industries, from digital start-ups to local government. Through advocacy and engagement, she works to create a world where local communities thrive in harmony with nature and produce healthy food in healthy landscapes.
