The Canary Islands experienced an exceptional February from a climatic point of view. With an average temperature of 13.2 °C and an anomaly of +2.9 °C compared to the reference period, last month was extremely warm in the archipelago and the third warmest since 1961, according to the preliminary climatological report from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). By island, February was extremely warm in Mallorca and Ibiza and very warm in Menorca. In Mallorca, the average temperature was 13.3 °C (+2.7 °C); in Menorca, 13 °C (+2.4 °C); and in Ibiza, 13.7 °C (+2.7 °C). Historical records

During the month, numerous records were broken: for average monthly temperature in Mallorca and Ibiza; for average maximum temperature in Mallorca; for highest absolute minimum temperature in Mallorca and Menorca; and for average minimum temperature across the three islands. Several historical weather stations also recorded unprecedented values. This was the case in Lluc (average of 11 °C and anomaly of +3.1 °C, with data dating back to 1943), Pollença (14.2 °C and +2.5 °C), Palma Airport (13.3 °C and +3.2 °C), Son Bonet (13.6 °C and +2.5 °C), and Só (13.2 °C and +3.1 °C).

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Joan A. Santana Morro, head of the Forest Management and Soil Protection Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, presented this Wednesday at the Estudi General Lul·lià, within the framework of the activities of the Climate Academy, a comprehensive analysis on the vulnerability of island forests to the climate crisis Climate change and its impact on island forestsAccording to Santana, the current forest "doesn't fit" with the new climate scenario of persistent droughts and thermal anomalies, which has triggered a decline in the island's forests. This, combined with the large accumulation of forest biomass and water stress, means that these forests are at real risk of suffering extreme and virulent wildfires that are beyond their capacity to be extinguished. The most critical risk, however, comes from pyroconvective fires. Pyroconvective fires are a type of highly virulent fire, not new, but which have been recorded more frequently in recent years, especially during the summer of 2025 in the fires that affected the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. These phenomena, fueled by a warmer atmosphere and a large accumulation of biomass, are capable of modifying the atmosphere and generating "fire precipitation," which releases a large amount of energy that far exceeds the physical limits of firefighting equipment and resources. For this reason, Santana emphasizes the need to seek solutions beyond fire suppression. "Extinguishment is the response, but the solution lies in the active management of the land," he asserts. Management that allows us to confidently face the challenge of climate change and enables the transition and adaptation of forest areas to the new climate scenario. Revitalizing rural activity

Santana urges the restoration of the agroforestry mosaic through prescribed burns, grazing land, preventative forestry, and sustainable forestry practices, among others. To achieve this, a vibrant rural sector, deeply connected to the land, is essential. This sector must provide security for the island's residents and, in turn, maintain diverse and rich forest areas that supply products and services to society. Action must be taken before it is too late to prevent the degradation and loss of quality of these areas, which are vital to the island's inhabitants.

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Recent storms have washed away almost all the sand from the most popular beaches on Menorca's south coast. The force of the wind and the pounding waves have completely devastated the beaches of Binigaus, Sant Tomàs, and Sant Adeodat, in the municipality of Migjorn Gran, as well as the first stretch of Son Bou (Alaior), the island's longest beach. In the case of Son Bou, the remaining almost two and a half kilometers of coastline are now reduced to just a third of their original dune system. This significant reduction in sand has sparked concern among the affected municipalities just over two months before the official start of the tourist season.

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Try it out. Go to Google Earth (available on web and Android) and do zoom On top of your favorite beach, select the 'Show past images' function until you find the first clear photo. We tested this on the beaches of the small, overpopulated municipality of Ibiza, as they are the subject of this article: Talamanca, Les Figueretes, and a section of Playa de la Bossa. The first truly clear photos are from 2008-2009. Only 17 years have passed, but you can already see how Talamanca has lost some of its sand, while a section of Playa de la Bossa has simply evaporated.

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A few weeks ago Alba Tarragó He brought a smile to our faces—a slightly sad one, yes—with a piece about our New Year's resolutions. In it, he analyzed the explicit resolutions for 2026 made by a majority of social media users who had decided to openly "put themselves first."

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The rollout of solar energy installations and energy efficiency measures in Balearic schools is progressing: so far, the plan includes projects in 54 schools, institutes, and training centers across the islands (out of more than 400). The interventions include photovoltaic installations, shared photovoltaic energy systems, and the replacement of lighting with LED technology, with the aim of reducing energy consumption, decreasing CO₂ emissions, and preparing schools for an increasingly evident climate change context. In addition to the 54 projects already approved, the installation of pergolas in 17 schools is being considered. A result of collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Balearic Energy Institute (IEB), the plan has a cross-cutting scope: 17 primary schools will incorporate various initiatives. Shared photovoltaic systems will be installed in 15 of these schools, a model that allows the energy generated to be used not only for the school's own consumption but also for municipal facilities and services in the surrounding area. Two more primary schools will have their own facilities, helping to reduce the schools' electricity bills, which are paid for by the local councils.

]]> First it was 'sustainability' (with the mantra of 'social, environmental, and economic'). Then, 'restraint'. And this year it's 'trend shift'. The Catalan government tries to push a new buzzword each tourist season, and at Fitur it was clear they were very proud of it, of the 'trend shift', as if the government were responsible for it. I don't mind saying it: you only have to spend a little time near the Minister of Tourism to realize that it's a huge achievement if he even learns the answers he's supposed to give in Parliament. For him to be able to influence international trends in mobility and visitor arrivals would be a miracle of biblical proportions.

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A third of the territory of the Balearic Islands is undergoing desertification. Data fromAtlas of Desertification in Spain Newly published studies confirm that this phenomenon affects approximately 1,600 square kilometers of the archipelago's total surface area. But the first thing experts point out is that "desertification doesn't mean a desert is being created. It's a process of land degradation, resulting from a series of causes, and what is certain is that it occurs wherever there is aridity," explains Enrique Morán, a geographer at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). "Therefore," he insists, "when desertification percentages are presented, we should primarily reflect on the fact that these are territories where the soil has been impoverished and degraded. So, even if there isn't a very large change in terms of vegetation, which is the last to occur, a weakening has already begun, which is not at all positive." Experts consider desertification itself to be a degradation of the land, since as it progresses, ecosystems lose fertility, regenerative capacity, and environmental quality—a process influenced by both climate and human activity. According to recent Atlas of Desertification in SpainUp to 87% of the Balearic territory is considered arid, and therefore susceptible to desertification. Of these arid zones, 33.7% are already degraded, which is equivalent to approximately one-third of the total territory of the Balearic Islands (29.3%), placing the archipelago among the most vulnerable regions in Spain.

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Vineyards and almond trees, two emblematic crops of the Balearic Islands, could see their future jeopardized in the medium term if temperatures continue to rise. This warning came yesterday from biologist and professor at the University of the Balearic Islands, Jaume Vadell, during his address to the Parliament's Commission on Climate Change in Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. According to Vadell, both species "suffer" from high temperatures and depend on a specific number of chill hours to complete their productive cycle. "The reduction of these hours is key for woody crops. Although heat may initially stimulate growth, yields decrease when a certain threshold is exceeded," he cautioned. For this reason, he proposed rethinking the agricultural zoning for these crops. The scientist also pointed out that other horticultural crops, such as tomatoes, melons, and watermelons, could be jeopardized if the current trend of rising temperatures persists. In contrast, crops like corn or alfalfa tolerate the heat better, although "above 36 or 37 degrees Celsius, growth is also limited." Regarding olive groves and carob trees, Vadell emphasized that they are "more resilient" species with a superior capacity for adaptation.

]]> The day after the COP30 summit, which was hastily wrapped up and as tense as previous ones, I wanted to know its conclusions. I searched for a while and consulted several reputable media outlets, both local and international. It was difficult, or rather, impossible, to find a concrete list of the agreements reached. Because they're strikes, and because they're no longer of much interest. Pretty wild, huh? Nanda Ramon nails it in her latest article in ARA BalearesWith climate change, the stakes are ever higher, yet paradoxically, we seem to care less and less. I get the impression that even—or perhaps as a starting point—the COP leaders, who have the power and resources to change the course of this race to nowhere, appear weary and apathetic. Could this apparent growing disinterest be induced, and perhaps the initial surge of interest when the climate crisis was the top priority was also deliberately fostered?

]]> I'm writing this article in mid-November from 39°N 2°E. In Palma, of course. Today we reached 26°C and the low didn't drop below 20°C. Before this article is published, the high will fall nine degrees below today's low, and the snow level will be at 600 meters. By the end of the week, we'll see another rise above "normal" values. A sprawling summer and a rollercoaster of temperatures—a lethal combination for nature reserves, agriculture, and safety. From my window, I see Christmas decorations, churro stands, and chestnut vendors. People are strolling around in sandals, shorts, and tank tops. They don't seem worried.

]]> The title of this article coincides with that of one of the most listened-to podcasts in France: Human warmth, which Nabil Wanik directs and presents for the newspaper Le MondeSince 2022, Wanik has been interviewing people of all kinds each week—politicians, scientists, artists, activists, and businesspeople—with the same underlying question: How do we address climate change, and what can we do to adapt?

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Dr. Damià Gomis, a physicist and professor of Earth Physics at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), warned this Thursday that the effects of climate change are already visible in the Balearic Islands and will continue to intensify until the end of the century if decisive measures are not taken to curb them. He made this statement at a conference organized by the Climate Academy, where he detailed the trends showing the direction in which the archipelago's climate is evolving. Gomis, director of the UIB's Interdisciplinary Laboratory on Climate Change, noted that the global temperature has increased by 1.20°C between the pre-industrial period and the decade of 2014-2023, but by 2024 the increase will reach 1.55°C. One of the direct effects of this warming is the rise in sea level, which has been increasing by an average of 3 millimeters per year since 2000. In the Balearic Islands – as in the rest of the Mediterranean – the temperature increase is even faster than the global average. One of the distinctive features of warming in the region, he explained, is the premature arrival of summer conditions due to a significant warming of spring. Since winters are changing less, the transition between seasons is becoming increasingly abrupt. This increase also implies another worrying phenomenon: the rise in heat waves, which are more frequent, longer lasting, and more intense, with a potentially very serious impact on human health. Regarding the sea, Gomis emphasized that in 2024 the average surface temperature of the Mediterranean exceeded 28°C for the first time since records began. In 2025, the global average was slightly lower, but in specific areas the situation was critical. As of June 30, 2025, the average surface temperature of the Balearic Sea was 27.4°C – 4.6°C above normal – and reached 30.5°C in southwest Mallorca, at the Dragonera buoy, during a marine heatwave that lasted for two weeks.

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The school year ends around June 20th and resumes the second week of September. Every year, when classroom temperatures exceed 30°C and most schools lack air conditioning, the same controversy resurfaces: while some families and experts advocate limiting summer vacation to July and August, the realities of school climates force the question of whether it's advisable for students to spend more days in class in June and begin the new school year. It's a debate that combines pedagogy, well-being, the state of school infrastructure, and work-life balance.

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The first thing he does every morning when he wakes up is check the weather on his phone. Guillermo Mudoy (1951, Las Palmas) is doubly islander. He was born in the Canary Islands, but he is also a citizen of the Balearic Islands, where he has lived and run a professional practice for decades. With over 40 years of experience in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, he has firsthand knowledge of mental health problems and their current trends. In a context of almost irreversible climate change, he will explain this Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Estudi General Lul·lià how people are mentally coping with this situation.

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It has been almost ten years since the world met in Paris and finally agreed to take climate disaster prevention seriously. But while there is a consensus on the structural economic reforms needed to transform sectors like energy, transport, and agriculture, the pace of investment is insufficient. On the contrary, governments are struggling to provide an adequate response to an increasingly evident and severe climate and ecological crisis. Many governments have proposed strong measures against climate change, but these often generate social backlash, as they are perceived as unfair and inequitable. Many see policies that pit the old against the young, cities against the countryside, or the Global North against the Global South. These controversies find fertile ground on social media, where they thrive and degenerate into a hell of misinformation, inflammatory rhetoric, and polarization.

]]> These past few days marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly storm in Valencia. In the days and weeks that followed, many people from all walks of life from the Balearic Islands joined together to lend a hand to so many who had lost everything, in a truly commendable act of solidarity. This year should serve as a lesson, given that extreme weather events linked to climate change are and will continue to be increasingly intense and virulent, as we witnessed in Sant Llorenç in October 2019 and in Ibiza a few weeks ago.

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Bringing together citizens, organizations, the scientific community, and the economic sector, providing training on climate change, and promoting action to address the challenges we face are the main objectives of the Climate Academy, a laboratory and platform for organizations created to overcome the gap between scientific and technical knowledge and the dissemination of everything related to climate change. The promoters of this initiative are the Estudi General Lul·lià, which will host it, and Palma XXI. Participating organizations include Friends of the Earth, Mallorca Preservation, Marilles, Plan XXI, the College of Environmentalists, the Mediterranean Initiatives Foundation, and Tramuntana XXI. The Academy also has the support of Caixa Colonya.

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What will the Balearic Islands be like in 2075? ARA Baleares has consulted experts, and they all share a common message: if decisive and significant measures are not taken to reverse certain trends, the outlook for the islands in 50 years is anything but optimistic. More population, dependence on tourism, political polarization, waste, and territorial destruction. Less housing and basic resources, such as water, while facing the deepening effects of climate change. The Balearic Islands are in a race against time, and there is no guarantee without action.

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