Spain Establishes New Climate Science Advisory Body
Poinews.com – The Spanish government approves scientific panel to tackle climate change, marking a significant step in the nation’s environmental strategy. On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers formally approved the creation of a Scientific Panel on Action against Climate Change. This new advisory body will provide independent and multidisciplinary analysis to support the development of public policies related to the climate emergency. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities emphasized that this working group will deliver rigorous, independent analysis in response to needs raised by government departments.
According to the ministry’s statement, the initiative will strengthen the integration of expert knowledge into public decision-making. The project is led jointly by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. Officials expect the team of experts to be fully operational by autumn, providing timely guidance as Spain faces mounting environmental challenges.
Urgent Response to Record-Breaking Wildfires
The announcement comes at a critical moment as Spain battles an unprecedented wave of wildfires. The Ávila forest fire has devastated more than 77,000 hectares of forest land, becoming the largest ever recorded in the country’s history. Government figures reveal that more than 63,000 people have been evacuated, while a further 35,000 remain confined to their homes for safety.
“The new working group will issue reports on scientific evidence and proposals for response protocols,” the ministry stated, highlighting the panel’s practical role in crisis management.
According to the latest situation report from the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the forest area affected by wildfires since the beginning of the year in Spain already stands at 172,396 hectares. This figure represents virtually half the total that burned in the country in 2025, underscoring the accelerating pace of climate-related disasters.
The economic impact is equally severe. The cost of the wave of fires in Spain could reach 3.275 billion euros in firefighting operations alone. Following the approval of the agreement, the process of selecting the scientific staff who will make up the panel’s functional structure will open over the summer months.
Other responsibilities include drawing up response protocols and answering queries to guide public policies both in normal circumstances and during crises and emergencies. The panel will also carry out foresight exercises to anticipate future scenarios arising from the climate emergency. Its governance will be organised at two levels to ensure comprehensive coverage of all aspects.
On the one hand, an organisational and technical committee will be responsible for directing the work, co-ordinating the process of selecting experts and channelling requests for reports. On the other, a scientific council will be in charge of producing studies and specialised advice. This council will comprise ten researchers of recognised standing from disciplines including climate science, ecology, geography, water resources, sustainable agriculture, health, the marine environment, engineering for the ecological transition, environmental law, environmental sociology and behavioural sciences.
The creation of the panel delivers on the first pillar of the State Pact on the Climate Emergency, presented by the government in September 2025. According to the government, the proposal was refined through a participatory process that received almost 4,000 contributions from around 1,300 stakeholders. This broad consultation demonstrates the commitment to evidence-based policy making as the Spanish government approves scientific panel mechanisms to address long-term climate challenges.
