Stricter water restrictions expected in March and April if drought continues
Catalan government urges citizens to change consumption practices
Society
Current affairs and social issues
New drought restrictions in Barcelona area and northeastern Catalonia from Friday
Measures only affect agricultural, industrial, and recreational use, not drinking water
Drought measures affecting over 80% of population to be introduced
Industry and leisure activities see water use restricted for around 6.7 million inhabitants, drinking water not affected
Drought forces shutdown of one of largest hydroelecrtic power plants
This year has seen 32% less energy generated compared with average of past ten years
Unseasonal cold, extreme heat, drought: calamitous year for agriculture
Losses of up to 80% in crops as farmers call for more efficient use of water
Intense heat and little rainfall intensify drought in Catalonia
Barcelona weather station recorded average summer temperature 4.4°C higher than mid-20th century mean
The 11th-century sunken church emerging from water due to drought
Town of Sant Romà de Sau was sunken in 1960s to create Sau reservoir, but low reserves bring up eerie relics of the past
Catalonia plans to curtail gambling advertising and sponsorship
Measure part of 2024 budget bill which has not yet been presented or processed
Police interventions for knife crimes have more than tripled in ten years
Authorities notice a "deterioration in neighborhood coexistence" since the pandemic leading to more tension
Catalonia plans to increase rent subsidies for vulnerable households
Income threshold to be raised to €30,000 while grants offered to increase from €300 to €500
Education department urges confidence in Catalan schools after poor PISA results
Government initially blamed low scores on 'overrepresentation' of migrants
Cable thefts from railway tracks soar in Catalonia
Most incidents occurred in accessible areas undergoing work
Education department backtracks after blaming poor test results on 'overrepresentation' of migrants
Secretary of Educational Policies says "all doubts discarded" after clarifications from PISA
Only 21% of Catalans would vote in favor of Spanish Constitution if referendum were held again
Figures from Center for Opinion Studies show uptick in support from 17.5% in 2018
Spain ranked worst country in EU for child poverty
More than one in four children in Spain live in poverty, according to Unicef report
Latest updates and breaking news on society, social issues, and current affairs from Barcelona and Catalonia. Keep up to date on protests, the housing crisis, the ongoing drought, the climate crisis and environmental management, urban development and management, the language immersion system, and much more here.