A new study shows that Spain is experiencing a changed climate, with summers stretching 36 days longer than they did before the 1950s. This alarming trend is a sign that the country is switching to a desert like environment. Concern is mounting among scientists, conservationists and policymakers alike because the extended summer season presents a host of problems for agriculture, water resources and public health.

A team of Spanish climatologists looked at temperature and precipitation data collected at weather stations throughout the country and their study. Their findings reveal that the onset of summer and autumn occurs earlier in the year, and autumn is delayed. And now some areas in Spain’s southern regions are experiencing summer conditions for periods of one-half of the year, marking a very pronounced extension of the hot season.

This climate shift has many consequences. Many traditional Mediterranean crops are under increased stress, and farmers are struggling to change crop cycles to match the new patterns of weather. Warmer summers are leaving more water behind when there is less available in the first place: evaporation is higher, and rainfall is down. The rise of this form of water trade has sparked regional governments to greater water conservation measures and increased investment in desalination technology.

These changes also have an impact on Spain’s growth in tourism. Extended summers are a good thing for the sun-seeking tourist, but the reality of extreme heat waves that are happening more often and becoming more intense may help scare holidaymakers away during busy season times. Because coastal communities tend to be more exposed to the effects of sea level rise and more frequent storm surges, they are highly vulnerable.

The increased risk of heat-related illnesses for vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions is being raised by public health officials. Cities in Spain are creating heat action plans that include expanding green spaces to reduce urban heat island effects and the creation of cooling centers.

In reaction to these challenges, the Spanish government has announced a hastening its transition to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency in all sections. Ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are set by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, which is also promoting the development of solar and wind power projects across the country.

More urgent action, environmental organisation is calling for stricter regulation of industrial emissions and for additional investment in climate adaptation measures. The rapid pace of climate change puts Spain’s unique biodiversity at risk, including many endemic species, they argue.

The situation in Spain is another reminder that climate change is a global phenomenon, and a profound need to collaborate, rather than compete, to tackle it. Spain experiences could teach other countries affected by climate change to become even more vulnerable and could be valuable lessons for other countries.

While the trend towards a more arid climate in Spain is clear, scientists stress time is not yet up to take the best out of the situation through fast and determined action. But they stress the need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions to minimising the changes that are underway while engaging local adaptation strategies to build resilience.

The next few years will be critical in helping to inform Spain’s ability to adapt to these different environmental realities. It is very likely that the success or failure of Spain’s response to this challenge will impact climate policies and adaptation strategies not only in Europe and the Mediterranean but much further afield.