For years he dedicated me to promote sustainable development, seeking to integrate the environmental perspective to economic development and well -being of communities. However, today I write about a bleak event: a storm that left 16 dead, mostly people drowned in their own homes, and I can’t help asking me: How could it happen?
While the immediate cause was water overflow, it is crucial to analyze the various reasons that contributed to this tragedy, including climate change, the lack of adequate infrastructure, disorderly urbanization and, above all, the lack of prevention.
Climate change: from scientific papers to news portals
Science has demonstrated for years that climate change is altering global climatic patterns and exacerbating extreme meteorological phenomena. According to an IPCC report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), extreme rainfall They have increased by 7% for each celsius degree of increase in global temperature. In this context, it is important to remember that 2024 was the hottest year registered, exceeding for the first time the increase in global temperature by 1.5 ° C with respect to pre -industrial levels. We have read the consequences in scientific Papers, but today we can see them in the first plans worldwide.
Relationship between climate change and extreme rains
High temperatures increase evaporation and moisture in the atmosphere, which favors more intense and concentrated rainfall in shorter periods, increasing the risk of floods.
At the regional level, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) documented that between 1970 and 2019, annual rainfall in the Pampas region increased by 30%, with a notable increase in heavy rainfall events greater than 50 mm per hour, as happened in this case. In addition, a study published in 2025 by the National Academy of Sciences reveals that extreme rainfall in cities have increased 5-10% in the last three decades, especially in urban areas of South America, where heavy rains can exceed 100 mm per hour, leaving the tangible impact of climate change in evidence.
How does urbanization influence?
The Non -planned urbanization It has covered large areas with pavement, reducing green spaces and limiting soil absorption capacity, which increases flood vulnerability. According to a study by the National University of the South (UNS), Bahía Blanca has a drainage capacity that supports up to 40 mm of rain per hour. However, the recent storm produced rainfall up to 100 mm in less than two hours, which overflowed the system. It is important to remember that all climatic studies warn that these phenomena will continue to occur, and we must prepare.
Science warned it, but we still hope: inaction analysis
We have known that something like this could happen, but what is our answer? Argentina has national and international mechanisms specifically designed to deal with climate change, such as the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change (1992), the Paris Agreement (2015), the Sustainable Development Goals (2015) and National Law 27,520 (2019). These instruments establish concrete measures, such as funds for damage and losses. And to be clear, the $ 400,000 million required for the reconstruction of Bahía Blanca are damage and losses.
However, The lack of effective planning, short -term policies and weak inter -institutional coordination prevent its implementation, And we are still waiting for answers, while we regret more and more losses. Yes, also of human lives.
Climate shelters: the uncoordination in the emergency response
Some time ago the idea of climatic shelters is the target of many criticism for those who believe that talking about climatic crises is an exaggeration. It is not about World War II Bunkers, but about spaces equipped with food, water, energy and medical assistance, prepared to respond to catastrophes. The lack of planning and coordination of emergency services left the inhabitants without clear options on where to go or what to do: communications collapsed, telephone lines were unusable and lack of electricity prevented citizens from receiving precise instructions.
With Monday’s diary, do we believe that climatic shelters would have been useful in a situation like this? Should we start counting them in the big cities? Recall that, according to the last census, more than 92% of the Argentine population lives in large urban areas.
Reflection: The need to prepare for the future
The tragedy of Bahía Blanca is painful and leaves me this constant question: How could it happen? Not only for the violence of the rains, but for The lack of preparation of the city in the face of climatic risks, disorderly urbanization and resilient infrastructure insufficiency.
Unfortunately it is not an isolated event; is part of a global trend That in the first 3 months of the year he already manifested in Argentina in the form of floods, unprecedented storms and uncontrolled fires. Cities must adapt to this new reality, investing in infrastructure capable of handling extreme climatic events, such as efficient drainage systems, green areas to absorb water, adequate climatic shelters and well -defined evacuation plans.
This should never happen again. Climate events are going to multiply but cannot meet again vulnerable at home, without reaction and without clear response mechanisms. We must think what we could have done to have a different panorama today, and above all we must think what we are going to do from our place, whether citizenship, private sector or government, not to repeat this story.
Carolina Monaco, executive director of Eco House Global
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
