By Alejandro Cesar Orioli

On the eve of Marbella’s Transition Towns conference on October 27, organiser and Arboretum Marbella director Alejandro Cesar Orioli explains a bit more about the movement

AS the driest country in the EU, and with high climate variability in a large part of its territory, Spain is at the forefront of the effects of climate change in Europe.

Climate change modelling predicts that, for the last third of the 21st century, the average temperature could increase by up to 6C.

This would lead to an increase in forest fires, extreme temperatures and water shortages.

The National Plan on Adaptation to Climate Change, drawn up in 2006, addressed the key issues of temperature and water shortages in Spain.

It provided a framework stating the objectives, future climate scenarios and identified impacts and actions of 15 key sectors.

The plan anticipates an increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall by between 5% and 22% by 2099.

Impacts would, in theory, be more pronounced in arid and semi-arid areas like the Costa del Sol, where reductions in rainfall could be as high as 50%.

We all need to play a role in the fight against climate change.

One way we can do that is via the Transition Town movement, a campaign to create more sustainable communities which reduce their carbon footprint, are less reliant on fossil fuels.

The movement intends to equip people with the skills to respond to the changing circumstances which diminishing fossil fuels will cause.

In order to educate and inspire those on the Costa del Sol to take action, the Marbella Town Hall and Arboretum Marbella have joined forces to organise a conference.

This non-profit event, conducted mainly in Spanish, will bring together experts from Transition projects locally, nationally and internationally to share their successes and difficulties, offering practical solutions to creating more sustainable communities.

Speakers will include Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Network and author of The Transition Handbook.

There will also be group sessions, encouraging discussion on dealing with the economic crisis through the Transition model.

It will be a reference point for sustainability in southern Spain and inspire communities to implement this initiative, making a lasting difference to their local environment.

In Transition, Saturday October 27, Palacio de Congresos, Marbella
Tickets (€10) available at FNAC La Cañada, Marbella.

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