STORY: Spanish climate expert urges actions amid heatwaves in summer
DATELINE: July 5, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:46
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): JAVIER MARTIN-VIDE, Professor of physical geography at Barcelona University

STORYLINE:

Javier Martin-Vide, a climate expert and professor of physical geography at Barcelona University, in a recent interview urged the authorities to take action to deal with the heatwaves in summer.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish): JAVIER MARTIN-VIDE, Professor of physical geography at Barcelona University
"For this summer in 2023, there will be more heatwaves. We've already experienced one in June, but more are expected and they could reach extremely high temperatures and even set new records in Spain.
Heatwaves are happening earlier in the year. They do not only occur in July and August but also in June. Heatwaves are now more frequent, more intense, longer-lasting, and happen earlier.
It's been shown that during heatwaves in Spain, the number of deaths clearly goes up along with hospitalizations, especially among the elderly or those with chronic illnesses.
We have to adopt measures of self-protection. At the same time, the authorities have to provide social and health support to those people who are most vulnerable while also building climate shelters that allow us to escape the hottest moments in the day.
The agricultural sector will in some cases have to change crops in favour of those thermophile species that are best adapted to conditions of higher temperature, while in the case of industry, the sector will have to reduce its consumption of water as much as possible."

The country's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) forecasted that the temperature in the city of Seville is expected to reach 48.2 degrees Celsius.

Authorities in Barcelona have announced to provide 227 climate shelters in the city this summer.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)