The recurring smoke caused by the burning of agricultural waste is creating serious health and environmental problems throughout the Marina Alta region. Fine particulate matter, toxic fumes, and heavy smoke particularly affect children, the elderly, and people with respiratory illnesses. In addition, the persistent smoke diminishes residents’ quality of life, harms tourism, and threatens the ecological balance of our region. There have long been practical alternatives to open burning — yet convenience and outdated administrative practices continue to cause daily smoke pollution.
We call for a fundamental change in mindset to finally take seriously the right to a healthy environment enshrined in Article 45 of the Spanish Constitution.