JECS Forum Tackles Climate Change Impacts on Health, Energy, and Wildfires in Andorra

The fifth edition of the Jornades de l'Energia i les Ciutats Sostenibles (JECS) takes place on Friday, 25 September, from 9am to 1.30pm at the Centre Cultural Lauredià in Sant Julià de Lòria. Organised by FEDA, the Comú de Sant Julià de Lòria, and the Empresa Familiar Andorrana (EFA), the forum focuses on the social consequences of climate change, such as rising temperatures, extended droughts, sudden storms, and their influence on health, energy use, and wildfires in the Pyrenees.

Meteorologist and 3Cat presenter Tomàs Molina opens the event with a presentation on future weather patterns and their societal effects, including daily life projections for 2030. Other speakers cover specialised topics: carbon footprint specialist Hind Jamiloun; Mireia Garcia Carrasco, a doctor with the Health Ministry and coordinator of the working group on zoonoses and emerging diseases; Ferran Garcia from the Generalitat de Catalunya's Grup d’Actuacions Forestals (GRAF), addressing wildfire risks in the Pyrenees; sociologist Anna Berga Timoneda on energy poverty as a form of social inequality; UPC physics professor Alexandre Perera; and Jordi Travé, FEDA's director of new infrastructure, on shifting electricity demand, including a 6% rise this summer due to heatwaves.

Organisers highlighted the growing relevance of these issues. Sant Julià de Lòria's cònsol major, Cerni Cairat, noted that climate change increasingly affects the territory and daily living. FEDA director general Sílvia Calvó pointed to summer energy spikes and the need to examine impacts from various angles. EFA vice-president Paula Tarrado emphasised effects on business operations and costs.

The agenda ends with two roundtables on public administration responses to climate risks and energy access amid worsening weather. Calvó will deliver closing remarks.

Admission is free, with bookings available until capacity. All sessions are open access.