Climate Resilience and Adaptive Strategies for Flood Mitigation: The Valencia Paradigm

The Valencia region exemplifies the intricate interplay of climate, urbanization, and human interventions in managing hydrological systems amidst increasing environmental challenges. This study explores the escalating risks posed by flood events, emphasizing how anthropogenic factors—such as urban expansion, sediment exploitation, and inadequate land use—amplify the vulnerabilities to extreme weather patterns driven by abnormal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) concentration. Nature-based solutions (NBS) like floodplain restoration and dam removal are analyzed for their benefits in enhancing ecosystem resilience and biodiversity but are critiqued for unintended consequences, including accelerated river flow and sedimentation issues. This study further examines the impacts of forest fires, exacerbated by land abandonment and insufficient management practices, on soil erosion and runoff. A critical evaluation of global policies like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals the tension between aspirational targets and practical, locally-driven implementations. By advocating historical insights, ecological restoration practices, and community engagement, the findings highlight the importance of adaptive strategies to harmonize global frameworks with local realities through modeling and scaling simulations, offering a replicable model for sustainable flood mitigation and resilience building in Mediterranean contexts and beyond.