The Delegate of the Government in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, has attended, together with the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi Spain, the XXX European Days of Territorial Representatives of the State (AERTE) that organizes the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory under the title “Territorial Representatives of the State and Sustainable Development”.
At this event, Barnabas stressed the importance of the fight against “a great shared challenge: the climate emergency”. “Europe – said the delegate – “is at the heart and epicentre of climate change”.
A climate catastrophe, like the dana of October 29, “does not become a human tragedy if there is planning, prevention and coordination.” Thus, “in the event of a red alert, all protocols must be activated automatically, without the need to wait for a final order, from a raised thumb”. We also need to review the communication systems because “we cannot allow EsAlert to work only in those municipalities with good coverage”. Therefore, we must explore “alternative mechanisms, designed and agreed with each city council”. In times of crisis, “rapidity saves lives and that rapidity is only possible if the response has been prepared earlier” with drills and planning. In addition, it requires “an educated, conscious and involved citizenry.” The delegate referred to the need for prevention “which also involves designing more resilient cities with adapted infrastructures”.
Bernabé recalled that, from the zero minute of the emergency that devastated Valencia, “the Government of Spain —through the Government Delegation— activated all available state resources.” “The coordination,” he added, “was immediate. But it wasn’t enough. Because other levels of response from the autonomous administration failed. Because, despite the warnings, the necessary protocols were not activated and acted dramatically late.”
The delegate also referred to “the exemplary international dimension” of reaction to the damage with the activation of the Civil Protection Mechanism managed by the National Center for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM), through which France deployed 15 media and 50 people and Portugal contributed 30 media and 101 personnel. For its part, Morocco, within the framework of the bilateral agreement in force, deployed a contingent of 103 people, 36 trucks and 2 support vehicles.
The delegate has called for “a European territorial agenda that allows rapid response to emergencies, rebuilding with sustainability criteria”. And that agenda – he concluded – “must be built from the territory with policies of proximity”.
These days, which are organized for the first time in Valencia, bring together Spanish territorial representatives with international counterparts with the aim of generating forums for work and exchange of ideas on issues of interest in the territory, such as emergency management, climate crisis, scarcity of natural resources, etc. The days, which have been inaugurated by the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi Spain, are held today and tomorrow at the La Nau Cultural Center.