The impact of the climate change at the beaches and bay of Cala Millor are to study

The European project LIFE AdaptCalaMillor intends to increase the resilience of infrastructure, ecosystem services and the socio-economy to the effects of climate change.

With this objective, this initiative of the Government incorporates the competent national, regional and local authorities of the coastal area to be informed and trained on the risks and integrated adaptation solutions based on science for Cala Millor.

Based on projections for 2050 and 2100, the impacts derived from climate change on the Balearic coastline point to the loss of beaches and the affectation of buildings and infrastructures, which will affect the main economic activity of the area, tourism. According to the results of the PIMA ADAPTA COSTAS project, in which the ICTS SOCIB has also participated, the urban beach of Cala Millor would be affected by a loss of between 33 and 66% of dry beach in 2100, both scenarios considering the least favorable climatic conditions. The erosion process would be irreversible in any event, given that the bottom of the beach is limited by the promenade and both the physiography and human uses make it impossible for it to recede.

In this context, LIFE AdaptCalaMillor aims to increase the resilience of beaches, using new methodologies based on scientific evidence and participatory and governance schemes, such as the involvement of citizens in decision-making on coastal planning and management. The ICTS SOCIB is coordinating this participatory decision-making process to select the climate change adaptation measures for Cala Millor. Thus, it is expected that the implementation in Cala Millor will result in the definition of a long-term adaptation project based on the understanding and agreement of a wide range of stakeholders sharing interests and competences in the same bay. Its implementation aims to minimize the physical, environmental and socio-economic effects foreseen for this stretch of Mallorca's coastline.

This ambitious project, which began in January 2023, will culminate in 2027 with the preparation of a strategic plan and a preliminary urbanization project for the Cala Millor coastline, covering an estimated total area of 85,795 m². In parallel, the necessary documents of measures ready for implementation will be drawn up. These will serve as a basis for the contracting of the climate change adaptation works in different stages and in an adaptive manner; thus marking the precise roadmap for the materialization of the proposed adaptation strategies and measures.

Thus, the bay of Cala Millor will be an example for other Mediterranean tourist destinations with similar characteristics. As a pilot case of adaptation to climate change, it aims to take a step forward in urban beach adaptation solutions, through scientific analysis and study of local risks and vulnerabilities, moving on to the proposal of tangible and transformative actions, with a real impact on society and the development of this area.

These Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are applied to the search for effective strategies for the long-term adaptation of the urban beach of Cala Millor, implementing the elements of nature itself as an alternative to coastal infrastructures and short-term palliative measures that turn out to be not so efficient from an economic and environmental point of view.

The geographical scope of the project covers an area of 1.5 km² of the beach. In this space, a thorough analysis will be carried out with hazard, vulnerability and risk maps for physical, environmental and socio-economic dimensions, considering medium and long-term scales up to 2030 and 2050. Subsequently, multi-risk maps will be produced, which are essential for decision-making on integrated adaptation strategies at the local level, addressing urban, legislative, socio-economic, physical and environmental aspects in a responsible manner.

At the local level, work will be carried out with the community of Cala Millor to promote public awareness of the risks and impacts of climate change. Understanding of measures that incorporate nature-based solutions will be promoted, which involves changing the conventional perception of a coastal urban landscape and reconfiguring the coastline. This is part of an ongoing dialogue with society, ensuring that their needs and demands are considered at every stage of decision-making.