15 plausible solutions against global fatalism

BarcelonaFaced with liberal democracies besieged from within and without by the shockwaves of Trumpism, the undeniable evidence of the climate crisis—and climate denial—and growing inequalities with housing as the primary cause, the ARA gave voice for two days to the Enfoquem solutions forum, held by the CCCB. We detail 15 solutions across the three areas.

Democracy

Trumpism as a stimulus for European emancipation

The diagnosis is clear and there is widespread agreement: "Europe—in the words of French journalist Sylvie Kauffmann—is not prepared to face Trump and Putin." Neither in military terms nor in technological terms (AI, digitalization). And, to make matters worse, it is evidence that the liberal democracies of the Old Continent are being penetrated by the virus of ultra-populism or authoritarianism. We won't argue over the terminology. "The easiest thing is to be pessimistic," concludes Mark Bray, historian and author ofAntifawho was forced to leave the US and now lives in Madrid.

And faced with this situation, what do we do? What solutions exist? In short, experts propose five: distancing ourselves from the US, seeking new alliances, restoring the welfare state, selective political unity (not of the 27), and empathy with diversity.

Cristina Gallach, a journalist and high-ranking international civil servant for decades (NATO, EU, UN), proposes three ways out. First: "An intelligent break from the current transatlantic vassalage relationship that does not entail a total break between Europe and the US. This means investment, and here we must see if the European economic fabric responds. And it means moving towards a shift from the dollar standard to the euro standard." Second: as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Davos, "making alliances more flexible to ensure they are both pragmatic and inclusive [regarding immigration]." And third: "Returning to the basics of citizen protection to prevent further growth inequalities: healthcare, education, infrastructure." To achieve this, it will be necessary to "take risks" and for Europeans to understand that "sacrifices must be made."

The Economic Perspective

Economists Xavier Vives and Toni Roldán endorse Gallach and add the need to promote Eurobonds, arguing primarily for defense—"the US will no longer guarantee the public good of security"—and for digitalization. Politically, they agree on moving towards governance by the most committed countries. Vives also emphasizes the need to dismantle more internal trade barriers and to support the opposition to Trumpism within the US (both the Democratic and the internal Republican factions): "There are many reasonable Americans."

Social researcher Blanca Garcés advocates for a "more integrated, more common-good-based, and more courageous" Europe, a Europe that speaks "positively" and seeks dialogue "between different groups," that is, one that does not criminalize immigration and diversity. And, without ruling it out, she says that it is not enough to talk about a return to social democracy or to call for social mobilization.

Without hiding the difficulties of this European empowerment program in the face of the Trump-Putin pincer movement and the Chinese threat, experts are circulating the idea that Trumpism could be a stimulus. We'll have to see if we take advantage of it.

Energy and Climate Change

Dialogue as an instrument to respond to the great planetary crisis

"We are perhaps in the most important decade in the history of humanity; what we do will shape our future for centuries to come." This assessment by science communicator and environmentalist Andreu Escrivà is an invitation to overcome the inaction promoted by both those who deny the evidence of the climate crisis and those who succumb to the despair of believing there is nothing that can be done. Given this, what can be done? Experts offer five solutions.

"We must break the climate silence, create spaces to open a dialogue, and realize that we are not alone in our concern about what is happening," says Escrivà himself. "Reconnect with nature, become emotionally involved in the idea that change is still possible," this climate change expert urges the audience, inviting those present to join, for example, one of the many citizen science groups operating in Catalonia. Furthermore, he emphasizes that citizen unity is the necessary first step for action: "What makes no sense is shifting the responsibility onto individuals, telling you it depends on you, on whether you feel like riding a bike. We'll end up atomizing society," he adds.

Looking towards institutions and governments, the climate emergency should guide every public investment. Economist Mar Reguant, specializing in energy economics and climate change, proposes prioritizing policies that address both mitigation and adaptation simultaneously. "If we rebuild the commuter rail system now, how do we make it not only an efficient mode of transport, which it isn't, but also a resilient one? Or, where do we install solar panels to prevent water evaporation in irrigation canals or even reservoirs? Let's remember that we experienced a historic drought not so long ago," he suggests. And speaking of climate resilience, Reguant recalls the massive blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula last year and poses the challenge: we must think about climate resilience not to cope with a blackout in April when temperatures are 20 degrees Celsius, but in August when they reach 40. "It's also a matter of social justice."

Without abandoning the practical realm, the electrification of the economy is one of the strategic paths on which efforts must be focused. "Buying an electric vehicle is the most transformative thing we can do today," suggests Daniel Pérez, an expert in energy transition and CEO of Energética (the Catalan government's public renewable energy company), as an example. The technology to complete this energy model shift already exists and, moreover, it's economical: "Unlike food, in energy, green energy is cheaper, and that's undeniable. No amount of Donald Trump can stop it," he affirms. In fact, Pérez explores the opportunity that even a "dark" period like the current Trump era can open up for Europe: "It will accelerate the energy transition: last year Spain installed more solar power capacity than all of its installed nuclear capacity." For Pérez, now is the time to communicate that we are facing the most serious crisis humanity has ever confronted. "We cannot abandon the war of cultural narratives; it is necessary to provide clear information so that the prevailing thesis is not the denialist one."

Anticipating is saving lives.

And while we seek ways to accelerate this profound shift in our energy and cultural models, the climate crisis also demands awareness of the risks we already face. Physicist and meteorologist Gemma Puig celebrates the fact that over the years we have learned to predict "risk situations much better," and insists that this is a path we cannot abandon. "Anticipating saves lives and resources," she concludes, citing as an example the alert systems we all now receive on our mobile phones when weather conditions are high-risk. This anticipation should lead us to prepare for situations that, while they don't affect us now, will affect us in the future, as has recently occurred: "Another drought will return; we don't know when, but we know it will happen. Therefore, water storage infrastructure, which is now known to be a priority, is also crucial," argues the meteorologist from 3Cat.

All solutions, however, cannot ignore the fact that the context demands a certain speed in responding to a crisis that is already showing its teeth in many corners of the planet, including Catalonia. "We need speed, but we mustn't lose hope." This message was delivered by Francisco Javier Vera, a 16-year-old Colombian climate activist, who called on mobilized youth. "In positions of power and decision-making, we have very elderly people, like Putin, Xi Jinping, or Trump, who are around 80 years old. In contrast, young people have a more long-term concern about what will happen to the world."

Beside him, at the panel discussion on climate activism and communication, biologist and conservationist Evelyn Segura issued a warning to leaders: "We have all the information, all the evidence, but this is no longer about small actions, but about structural changes that those in power must make."

Housing

More public-private collaboration to solve the most urgent challenge

There are no easy solutions to the housing crisis: the proof is the political polarization on this issue and the difficulty of reaching broad consensus. And now it seems that a very concrete consensus has been reached: the need to build. This is the first of five solutions for experts.

"To build housing, we need three important things: land, roofs, and money," says Jordi Valls, Deputy Mayor for Economy and Housing in Barcelona, ​​who has a very clear vision of the city's future: with 15% public housing. And that's why public investment is needed—at least much more than what there has been in the last decade—but also "private money."

"We must find mechanisms for collaboration with the private sector so that the social safety net is shared with the government," says Carme Trilla, president of the Habitat3 Foundation, regarding how to involve small and large landlords and the government in creating incentives to increase the supply of rental housing, which is the main one. This public-private approach is therefore the common denominator for tackling the two major housing challenges facing the country: expanding the housing stock and regulating it. It is true that there is even less consensus in this latter area, but what is needed is swift action for those struggling to pay rent or mortgages, or to access housing. For Trilla, this can be summarized in four other impactful solutions: ending evictions—last year in Catalonia there were 5,500 rental evictions and 1,200 mortgage evictions—, encouraging private investment to contribute affordable housing to the stock, controlling speculative purchases—this element is already on the table—and finally, providing emergency housing to address the needs of people living in overcrowded rooms or "vertical slums."

To discuss all these solutions, Valls and Trilla wanted to establish two premises: "Barcelona is not a city controlled by speculators, although there is speculation," said Valls, taking into account that land registry figures classify the majority of homes and owners as small landlords. "I don't agree with the separation between large and small landlords," Trilla emphasized. "This is a fundamental error. The methods of negotiation should be the same for everyone," she argued.

Therefore, for her, the solution to increase the supply of affordable rental housing involves accepting the exact opposite. And since increasing it means more negotiation: should it be with large landlords? "They are essential to increasing the supply," she concluded.