How to sustainably adapt to climatic changes?

It is summer 2021. A hot time of the year to be in the south of Spain. Especially this year. Record-breaking high temperatures of more than 45 degrees Celsius are expected in the Andalusian region. The state recommends staying inside as much as possible. This is nothing new for its inhabitants. They are used to dry and hot summers. And it seems that nature is, too. Brown hills as far as the eye can see. Green colors only appear in winter and spring, just as the first rains arrive. But they do appear, even if this seems impossible that time of the year.

Without any doubt, the region of Andalusia is suffering from the same challenge as about 1/3 of the world: desertification. Desertification is the process by which land becomes desert and biological productivity gets lost. It is a type of land degradation which typically results of drought, deforestation or inappropriate agriculture. When rainwater hits dry earth and there is no vegetation to bind the surface together, soil erosion occurs. This means that the earth’s fragile skin, the soil, which anchors all life on Earth, is carried “off-site”. It makes it nearly impossible to reestablish a living ecosystem with working ecosystem services on this piece of land.

Permaculture project fighting desertification

Near Villamartín, the place with the hottest temperatures in Spain recorded this summer, is the Suryalila Retreat Centre. An oasis of relaxation. Yoga and wellness retreats are offered here all year round. The center has the capacity to welcome around 60 to 100 guests plus staff members at the same time. Just next door, a small non-profit organization called Danyadara opened its doors. Its mission is to reverse desertification in Andalusia. This permaculture project aims at preventing bare ground, improving water stewardship and increasing carbon sequestration by recreating the forest-agriculture mosaics necessary to promote soil health and species diversity. Having completed a 4-week permaculture and ecobuilding experience at this beautiful place of earth, I can say that the main problem in the region and therefore the principle goal was, is and will be: water retention.

Climate change adaptation measures

Many attempts have been made to find water resources underground. A few hundred meters away from the main buildings of the center a couple of functioning wells could be built. But due to the large demand for water, these only last a few months of the year. Therefore, trucks deliver water during summer (which basically includes 9 months of the year). In the hottest season the truck passes by ten times a day. Getting trucks to deliver water, installing air conditioning systems in the house to allow a pleasant temperature inside, these are all measures to adapt to climate change.

Practical afternoon session during the Permaculture Design Course - how to make a hot compost pile (Photo: Anna Siegert)

While climate change mitigation is aiming to tackle the causes and to minimize possible impacts of climate change, adaptation looks at how to reduce the negative effects for the planet and its living beings. Without any doubt, climate change adaptation measures are highly needed on the local level right now as climatic changes are already present – the heat wave in Andalusia being the best example.

Finding a balance between climate change adaptation and mitigation

Now, the question that arises is: what does climate change adaptation mean in this case? Can this include measures like getting water delivered by a truck ten times a day or having air-conditioning trying to reach 20 degrees in every room while outside it is more than double that temperature? How can places like this survive in these challenging external conditions without contributing to the climate crisis themselves? For sure, permaculture can partly help, for instance by implementing swirls and planting trees to keep the little rain that falls during winter on the land or by installing a green water filter to treat and reuse grey water (see picture). It can give you an idea on how to retain and store water as much as possible, and where the capturing and usage of renewable energy resources makes sense. But can these measures ever cover the great needs of places like a retreat center? At what point does it make sense to give up and move further North to escape desertification and to install such a high need center in a more “secure” geographic region, leaving all buildings and established infrastructure, history and memories behind? How can we ensure that climate change adaptation measures do not simultaneously work against climate change mitigation?

This is not meant to be a critic. Those are questions that came up during my experience in Andalusia and have bothered me ever since. It seems imperative to think about those trade-offs as we all step into this challenging future where climatic changes chase us wherever we go.

I guess the answer to all of these questions is: it depends. Or what do you think? 

Setting the foundation for the wall (Photo: Anna Siegert)

Green Water Filter built during the Permaculture Design Course (Photo: Anna Siegert)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Siegert studied sustainable development at University of Graz and University of Basel and received her Master’s degree in September 2021. She successfully completed a permaculture design course at the non-profit organization Danyadara as well as a yoga teacher training at Suryalila Retreat Center, the two institutions the blog post refers to. Her areas of expertise include climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture and development cooperation.