Within the current context of climate emergency, the topic of climate change has become more prominent in secondary education in Spain. However, in general, conceptual confusions arise which should be clarified due to the social importance of climate issues. The objectives of this study, focused on third and fourth year students of ESO (Obligatory Secondary Education) in state schools in a town in the province of Alicante (Region of Valencia, Spain), seek to reveal the perception of the students regarding climate change and extreme weather events, in accordance with the subject in which these contents are taught; and to analyse whether the students have acquired a basic knowledge of the topic at the end of their secondary education. In order to fulfil these objectives, a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional and survey-based correlational study has been conducted. The sample was made up of 784 students, surveyed during the academic year 2021–2022. The results indicate that the principal subject in which climate change is taught is Geography and History. The students consider that climate change is a threat to human beings and believe that anthropogenic action is the principal cause. They also perceive an increase in extreme weather events, although it is necessary to qualify this aspect. Therefore, this study defends the need to address this topic in the third and fourth years of ESO, as it is one of the major challenges faced by society and one in which students should be educated within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Intense rainfall (≥100 mm/24 h) constitutes the most frequent atmospheric hazard on Spain’s Mediterranean coast; this phenomenon causes serious damage to property and kills or injures inhabitants. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its latest report in 2022, indicates that in the current climate change scenario, these episodes will become more frequent, hence the importance of analysing and characterising them. The present paper analysed intense rainfall episodes in the central sector of the Spanish Mediterranean coast (province of Alicante) in the 1981–2020 period. A total of 129 episodes were identified which have affected different areas of this province. The rainfall events were analysed by means of three synoptic classification methods subjective/manual and objective/automatic in order to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the two modalities. The main objective was to identify the most favourable atmospheric situations triggering intense rainfall in the study area. The period with the highest propensity for these episodes to develop was identified, as well as the geographical areas most affected in the study period. Autumn concentrates the biggest amount of intense rainfall episodes throughout the year. Herein, we attempt to demonstrate the relationship between atmospheric situation, accumulated rainfall volume, geographical area affected, and the most favourable period of the year for the development of these events. The main results of the synoptic analysis of extreme events show the coincidence, in the three classification methods used, that the existence of instability in the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere (DANA and troughs) and humid and warm E and NE surface flows are decisive. In addition, the warming recorded in the waters of the western Mediterranean in recent decades is related to extreme events.

One of the principal challenges for cities on the Mediterranean coast is the management of urban runoff after episodes of intense rainfall. This problem is aggravated by the effects of climate change, with the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena in this region. In light of this situation, the local governments, in collaboration with the concessionaire companies providing supply and sewage services, are committed to adopting measures aimed at a more efficient management of non-conventional water resources. Examples of good practice for reducing urban flood risk and adapting to climate change are those actions developed in the tourist municipalities of Alicante, Torrevieja, and Benidorm, where measures have been implemented or have been planned and integrated with green spaces, with a commitment to sustainability, such as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) or Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs). This study analyses these case studies, based on a detailed review of the technical projects that contemplate each of the actions. Furthermore, several field trips were made with technical personnel who are familiar with the measures adopted. The results show that the implementation of these systems contributes to advancing the reduction of urban flood risk and the adaptation to climate change, creating more resilient and safer urban spaces for the citizens residing in them.

The management of runoff during torrential rainfall events is a significant problem in urban areas of southeast Spain. The increase in soil sealing and the occupation of areas prone to flooding have aggravated this problem. Due to this situation, municipal administrations, in collaboration with the concession holder for the supply of water and sewage services, Hidraqua Gestión Integral de Aguas de Levante SA, are committed a more efficient management of non-conventional water resources. An example of this can be found in the municipalities of Rojales, Daya Nueva, and San Fulgencio. These towns are located in the Bajo Segura region of the province of Alicante, where various initiatives have been implemented that break away from the traditional paradigm of rigid infrastructures. These initiatives include green spaces or areas, and sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) or nature-based solutions (NBS). This article presents various case studies. Firstly, in the town of Rojales, where several actions are being undertaken to improve the management of wastewater and rainwater and provide a solution to unauthorised dumping, as well as encouraging the use of reclaimed water with the creation of a recreational green area, El Recorral Park. Secondly, in the case of Daya Nueva, the Europa Park constitutes a recreational green area, Europa Park, facilitates runoff drainage by SUDS and NBS. Finally, the creation of a floodable pond in the municipality of San Fulgencio encourages the use of wastewater, thus avoiding the discharge of this non-conventional water resource into the sea. In addition, the pond facilitates the appropriate management of runoff water. The working method in this article has been twofold: firstly, bibliographical references have been consulted from other national and international areas; and secondly, the technical projects in the case studies have been analysed in detail. Several field trips have been made to the selected municipalities, accompanied by the technical personnel in charge of the execution of the projects, to examine the measures adopted. The results show that the implementation of these systems contributes to adapting to climate change and creates more resilient urban spaces.

Insect communities are facing contrasting responses due to global change. However, knowledge on impacts of communities’ reorganizations is scarce. Network approaches could help to envision community changes in different environmental scenarios. Saproxylic beetles were selected to examine long-term variations in insect interaction/diversity patterns and their vulnerability to global change. We evaluated interannual differences in network patterns in the tree hollow–saproxylic beetle interaction using absolute samplings over an 11-year interval in three Mediterranean woodland types. We explored saproxylic communities’ vulnerability to microhabitat loss via simulated extinctions and by recreating threat scenarios based on decreasing microhabitat suitability. Although temporal diversity patterns varied between woodland types, network descriptors showed an interaction decline. The temporal beta-diversity of interactions depended more on interaction than on species turnover. Interaction and diversity temporal shifts promoted less specialized and more vulnerable networks, which is particularly worrisome in the riparian woodland. Network procedures evidenced that saproxylic communities are more vulnerable today than 11 years ago irrespective of whether species richness increased or decreased, and the situation could worsen in the future depending on tree hollow suitability. Network approaches were useful for predicting saproxylic communities’ vulnerability across temporal scenarios and, thus, for providing valuable information for management and conservation programs.

Las proyecciones climáticas y estudios llevados a cabo muestran a la cuenca mediterránea como una región muy afectada por los efectos del calentamiento global. Con este trabajo se pretende conocer mediante una revisión bibliográfica cuales están siendo los principales efectos observados en las precipitaciones, temperaturas y fenómenos extremos en la fachada mediterránea de la península ibérica, y hasta qué punto el mar Mediterráneo está contribuyendo a ese cambio en las condiciones climáticas. Los resultados han mostrado que existen ciertas variables climáticas, como las noches tropicales y las precipitaciones intensas, que en las últimas décadas están aumentando en el área de estudio. La razón se debe a varios factores, aunque el continuo incremento de la temperatura superficial del mar Mediterráneo parece que está jugando un papel diferenciador contribuyendo a la “mediterraneización” de esta región.