San Fernando has become the epicenter for discussing climate change and analyzing how it affects coastal areas, such as Andalusia, marine ecosystems, and examining vulnerable areas on which the rest of the planet depends, such as Antarctica.

World Water Day is celebrated every March 22nd, and Hidralia, an environmental company focused on water cycle management, and the San Fernando City Council have used this date to discuss one of the planet's essential resources and the challenges it faces.

San Fernando has become the epicenter for discussing climate change and analyzing how it affects coastal areas, such as Andalusia, marine ecosystems, and examining vulnerable areas on which the rest of the planet depends, such as Antarctica.

The event, titled "Oceans, in the Depths of Climate Change," aligns with the theme of World Water Day, promoted by the UN, which this year focuses on the protection of glaciers. The objective of the event was to understand what is happening, how it affects cities and their environments, and what initiatives are being developed to combat this challenge facing society.

The event brought together some of the most renowned experts in this field and also established a connection with Antarctica to learn firsthand about the state of one of the most fragile ecosystems and the one that hosts the most research on climate change.

Javier Benavente, dean of the Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of Cadiz (UCA) and president of the Governing Board of the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, was the first to take the stage and spoke about how climate change affects the ecosystem of this natural environment and the Gulf of Cádiz. He focused particularly on the coast of Cádiz and its shoreline and how the current model must be reconsidered in light of the decline facing Cádiz's beaches, focusing not only on rising sea levels but also on the lack of sedimentation.

Mercedes Martín, a meteorologist for Antena 3 Noticias and an expert in climate change and oceans, explained how climate change is transforming marine ecosystems and affecting coastal communities. She presented examples of how weather patterns are changing and the uncertainty this creates due to not knowing how they will affect the planet.

Antonio Tovar, director of the Andalusian Institute of Marine Sciences (ICMAN/CSIC) and co-principal investigator of the DICHOSO Antarctic project, and Belén Rosado, a researcher at the UCA's Astronomy, Geodesy, and Cartography Laboratory, joined from Antarctica to discuss one of the most special and sensitive places on the planet.

They explained what daily life is like at the Spanish military base in Antarctica, which will conclude a new research campaign in the coming days, the work they do, and the difficulties they face in carrying out their work.

Antonio Tovar has undertaken several expeditions to Antarctica and, through the DICHOSO Antarctic project, is participating in the mission to understand and characterize the biogeochemical structure of marine water bodies, both within and surrounding areas, in the Antarctic zone of Deception Island.

Belén Rosado is on her ninth Antarctic expedition, focusing her research on an active volcano in the area and developing mathematical deformation models. In fact, they have already confirmed that expansion and compression processes are occurring on the island.

Among the audience were students from the Bahía and Sancti Petri high schools, who asked various questions and enjoyed an event aimed at dissemination and awareness.

With this event, Hidralia, together with the San Fernando City Council, seeks to deepen people's understanding of climate change, raise awareness about the real problem facing the planet and how it is already being felt in their own environment. This knowledge aims to foster proactive behaviors among people, seeking solutions and developing sustainable attitudes that allow them to combat and adapt to the changes affecting ecosystems.