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Valencia DANA floods push Spain into global top 20 for climate disasters
New climate study presented at COP30 summit confirms the deadly October 2024 storm was the worst natural disaster in recent Spanish history
The catastrophic storm unleashed by the DANA (isolated high-altitude depression) that struck Valencia in October last year has propelled Spain into the top 20 countries worldwide most severely impacted by climate change in 2024, according to research unveiled at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil this week.
The study, presented by environmental organisation Germanwatch, draws on data from the International Disaster Database, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to assess the global impact of extreme weather events.
Spain now occupies 20th position in the 2024 rankings and sits at 24th place when examining the broader period from 1995 to 2024, with the devastating Valencia floods and the intense 2022 heat wave both contributing to the country's frightening elevated status.
The Valencia DANA, which the report describes as "the worst natural disaster in Spain's recent history", caused economic losses of almost €10 billion and claimed 237 lives. The storm displaced 400 people and left hundreds of thousands without access to water or electricity across the Valencian Community.
Among the top 20 most climate-affected countries in 2024, Spain and Chile stand alone as high-income nations, surrounded otherwise by developing countries such as Dominica, Myanmar, Honduras and Chad. The report suggests this positioning reflects not only the severity of natural disasters but also critical failures in emergency response systems and public preparedness.The study draws particular attention to the breakdown in communication between meteorological agencies and local authorities during the Valencia crisis. Spain's national weather service issued serious warnings well in advance of the storm, but these alerts failed to translate into timely action at the local level, leaving citizens largely unprepared for the disaster that followed.
The controversy over the emergency response ultimately led to the resignation of Valencian Community president Carlos Mazón on November 3, exactly one year after the disaster, following sustained public pressure and multiple mass protests demanding accountability for the delayed warning system.
Looking at the broader picture, the Climate Risk Index states that between 1995 and 2024, more than 9,700 extreme weather events worldwide claimed 832,000 lives and generated billions in economic losses.
Given that poor and middle-income countries continue to bear the brunt of climate change impacts, funding from wealthier nations is more important than ever.
Spain responded to these findings by announcing a new €35 million contribution to two climate funds at the Belém summit. This pledge comes on top of the €45 million in additional funding that Spanish Government President Pedro Sánchez committed to during Monday's opening session.
Alongside these funding announcements, the United Nations Environment Programme launched a Sustainable Cooling Pathway at COP30 to address one of climate change's most pressing challenges. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, billions of people worldwide will require air conditioning, yet many cannot afford it and conventional cooling systems drive further emissions growth.The UN proposal focuses on alternatives to fossil fuel-powered cooling, including passive design, energy-efficient technologies, green roofs and spaces, and hybrid ventilation systems.
If implemented globally, the programme could reduce emissions by 64%, equivalent to 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, save $43 billion in energy and infrastructure costs, and improve cooling access for 3 billion people.
The report makes it clear that Spain and other wealthy nations need to do two things. They must provide more climate funding to vulnerable countries, but they also need to sort out their own systems for dealing with extreme weather.
Images: Archive
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