We Need Low-Tech Climate Change Solutions Too

This is Gorgeous! These Ancient, Low-Tech Climate Change Solutions Work Well, and Save Money

Of course we’re all desperately worried about the looming climate crisis. (Well, most of us are, anyway). We know we need to change from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and perhaps high-tech ways to extract and store the carbon in the atmosphere. But we also need low-tech climate change solutions.

Methods that worked long ago. Simple but practical solutions, that don’t cost the Earth. That are easy to implement.

I think we’re losing sight of simpler solutions, in our mad rush to develop and employ new technology.

Here’s a perfect example from Alicante in Spain.

Drought Then Floods

I bet you can think of several cities, including some close to you, that are suddenly deluged by heavy rain and floods. It’s happening more frequently now, due to the climate crisis.

In Alicante, Spain, there may be months without rain – and then suddenly there’s massive flooding. (This has been happening in Alicante for centuries, it’s not just caused by climate change).

Ancient Arabs were renowned for their ability to store water. In desert areas they collected rainwater from roofs and stored it in a tank underneath the home. It was called an aljibe. 

Using this old method, authorities have built a new park – with a twist. Called La Marjal, it serves as a recreation area and a nature reserve – but its primary purpose is to store and then recycle rainwater, outdoors.

When rainfall is too heavy for the storm drains to cope, the overflow is diverted to the park, and also to a nearby treatment plant, for re-use.

The park was landscaped with native plants, and many birds and small creatures moved in quickly. The park forms a beautiful oasis among apartment blocks. There are also fish so there’s no problem with mosquitoes.

This Low-Tech Climate Solution Saves Money

The park was built quickly (just 2 years) and cost only a quarter of the cost of a reservoir. It is also much cheaper to maintain. And it adds value by being a recreation centre.

We Need More Low-Tech Solutions

This example shows that we have the knowledge and the ability to help cities survive more extreme weather.

The park in Alicante is not glitzy or glamorous – instead it’s a beautiful haven for humans and animals alike.

It’s a low-tech climate change solution that is cheap, quick and easy to implement and maintain.

We need to appreciate – and use – some older ways now, in our time of crisis.

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Warm regards,

P.S.  Don’t forget to see what you can do to help slow climate change – click here (it’s free)