The truth behind Europe’s floods

Media coverage has criticised government failures to adequately prepare and react to Valencia’s floods – from building in flood-prone areas, to the dismantling of the Valencian Emergency Unit, to the delayed disaster response.

These critiques are right – but they miss the crux of the issue. When we pave over forests to expand our cities, drain coastal wetlands to build petrol plants, and allow intensive farming practices to pollute and destroy our rivers – as has happened in Valencia in recent decades – we hammer the final nail in nature’s coffin. The result? More fuel on the fire when it comes to extreme weather.

Holistic 

Europe’s recent floods offer a painful lesson. Yes, combating climate change is non-negotiable. But framing climate action as solely about emissions neglects the importance of natural ecosystems in mitigation and adaptation. 

The collapse of local ecosystems and the ensuing disruption of weather patterns at regional scale is as significant as the rise in global temperatures. Europe’s recent floods have shown us that without healthy natural ecosystems, the resilience of entire regions – and the communities that depend upon them – is compromised.

The solution is a holistic approach that recognises the interconnectedness of climate, ecosystems, and societies. This is where restoring nature comes into play. 

More than ever, we need to regenerate natural ecosystems with communities in the driving seat, reconnecting fragmented habitats, revitalising vital natural areas like wetlands, and ensuring that human development works in harmony with nature, rather than against it.

Let’s be clear: it’s not that human development is all bad. We just need to make our cities, towns, and factories more nature-inclusive, allowing ample breathing space for the forests, marshes, and reefs that, ultimately, underpin our societies.

As Millan himself emphasised, “You need to do development in the right way: interrupt the water cycle as little as possible and […] invest long-term to recover the system.” We need to do as Millán did: see the bigger picture.

This Author

Lily Maxwell-Lwin is head of advocacy and engagement at Commonland, a global not-for-profit organisation that supports local communities to restore landscapes and regenerate food systems at scale. An urban planner by training, she has a background in urban sustainability issues and experience working in a range of industries – from digital start-ups to local government. Through advocacy and engagement, she is working to create a world where local communities thrive in harmony with nature, producing healthy food in healthy landscapes.