IMDEA Water participated in the preparation of Report C: Drought in Spain, a document coordinated by the C Office, presented last week in the Congress of Deputies (Spanish Parliament). The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the country’s vulnerability to drought and the challenges arising from the current climate context.

Dr Irene de Bustamante, Director of the Institute, and Dr Carlos Dionisio Pérez Blanco, lead researcher of the Economic and Institutional Analysis group, are among the 22 experts consulted for the document’s preparation. The report comprehensively analyses the risk of drought in Spain, its impacts, and the challenges the country faces in an increasingly demanding climate context.

Dr. Pérez Blanco participated, along with other specialists, in the C Dialogues, the technical consultation forum with members of the parliament. His participation allowed for the incorporation of specialized scientific perspectives into the report’s content, such as aquifer management, groundwater risks, and water resource governance. The document highlights the growing pressure on water systems, the worsening of drought episodes, and the need to strengthen planning and preventative management. IMDEA Agua emphasizes the importance of promoting the efficient use of water, strengthening monitoring based on scientific evidence, and advancing solutions that increase the country’s water resilience.

The document also warns about the state of water bodies: only 55% of surface water and 56% of groundwater are in good condition, reflecting the increasing pressure on available resources. It also highlights that rising temperatures are intensifying atmospheric water demand and exacerbating the severity of drought episodes.

IMDEA Agua emphasizes the importance of strengthening integrated water resource planning and management, promoting the efficient use of water, strengthening scientifically based monitoring, and advancing the implementation of innovative solutions that guarantee the country’s water resilience.

About the C Reports

The C Reports are documents on topics selected by the Congress Bureau in collaboration with experts. They contextualize and summarize the available scientific evidence on the topic under analysis and highlight areas of consensus, dissent, unknowns, and ongoing debates.