Xavi Segura: "The climate crisis can be reversed"

“The Montreal Protocol agreed in the late eighties to reduce and eliminate ozone-depleting gases. All UN member states approved it, and they banned the sale of some aerosols and air conditioners. The result has been very satisfactory: the ozone layer hole is closing, and between 2040 and 2066 it will close completely. This can reduce global warming by up to 0.5 º C”, remarked Xavi Segura, head of meteorology at ARA, at the talk he gave in the majestic auditorium of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona, an activity of the Club Prèmium open to all subscribers.

“It is a hopeful precedent for the fight against climate change, if we work together”, said Segura. “Therefore, although it is not easy at all - and the current political situation does not help -, I believe that the climate crisis can be reversed”.

We must adapt cities, which must have more green space and more shade, buildings must be prepared, well insulated, we must make responsible use of water -at some point we will be in need again-, we must prioritize the use of non-polluting transport (trains, bicycles, walking, shopping...), buy local products -so that there is less carbon footprint-, and have environmental awareness", remarked Xavi Segura. "From ARA we fight against "fake news"; there are many about the climate crisis", he added.

Segura supported the talk with numerous graphics and images. He showed impactful photographs of the Glòria storm, of the stronghailstorm that took place in La Bisbal d’Empordà in ?? -"a phenomenon more typical of central??? Australia or the USA. Every year there is an extraordinary hailstorm in Catalonia; with warmer sea water more are caused-, and of the work done by Josep Pascual, who for many years has been taking the temperature of the sea in L’Estartit -very valuable data, which NASA?? has recognized-.

"In recent years, we are exceeding the global warming limits set in the Paris Agreement for this century", stressed Xavi Segura, and provided a lot of data: the sea level in Catalonia??? has risen 10 centimeters, which has caused about 15 meters of beach retreat; with current emissions, at the end of the century the annual temperature could be more than 5 or 6 ºC above the average in some parts of the country; a reduction of 20% in rainfall is likely by the end of the century in Catalonia. All this can change if there were a reduction in gas emissions".

"The rains of recent months have been more intense due to the climate crisis. We have had a maritime flow from the Atlantic, humidity and warm water have caused abundant rains", he stressed. “The last four years have been the warmest in history. For example, 2025 left us with records: the record for consecutive days of high temperatures was broken (sixteen consecutive days)”, highlighted Xavi Segura, and commented that we will increasingly hear about scorching nights.

The event was presented by Jordi Isern, president of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts, and was very participatory. One of the subscribers proposed that, once a year, coinciding with World Meteorology Day, the newspaper's news - including opinions - should be complemented with the environmental impact it entails.

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