Scientific consensus on climate change and Barcelona: Difference between pages

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{{otheruses1|the Catalan city}}

National and international science academies and professional societies have assessed the current '''scientific opinion on climate change''', in particular recent [[global warming]]. These assessments have largely followed or endorsed the [[IPCC]] postition that ''"An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system... There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities''".<ref name = "IPCC WG1">[http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/index.htm Working Group 1], IPCC.</ref>

{{Spanish city |

image_skyline = BCN01.JPG |

image_skyline_size = 250px |

image_skyline_caption = Barcelona from the air |

native_name = Barcelona|

spanish_name = Barcelona |

nickname = Ciutat Comtal (Catalan)<br>|

city_motto = |

image_flag = Flag of Barcelona.svg|

image_flag_size = 150px|

image_coat_of_arms = Escut de Barcelona.svg|

image_coat_of_arms_size = 80px|

image_city_map = Localització de Barcelona.png|

image_city_map_size = 250px|

lat_long = {{coor dm|41|23|N|2|11|E|type:city(1,582,738)_region:ES}}|

time_zone = CET (GMT +1)|

time_zone_summer = CEST (GMT +2)|

founded = |

native_language = Catalan|

community = Catalonia |

community_link = Catalonia |

province = Barcelona |

province_link = Barcelona (province)|

comarca = Barcelonès|

comarca_link = Barcelonès |

divisions = 10|

neighbourhoods = 45|

mayor = Jordi Hereu i Boher|

political_party = PSC|

political_party_link = Socialists' Party of Catalonia|

area = 100.4 |

altitude = 12|

population = 1,605,602|

date-population = 2006|

population - metro = 5,324,763|

population-ranking = 2|

density = 15,969|

date-density = 2006|

website = http://www.bcn.cat/|

postal_code = 08001&ndash;08080|

area_code = 93|

}}

'''Barcelona ''' ([[Catalan language|Catalan]] {{IPA2|bəɾsəˈlonə}}, [[Spanish language|Spanish]] {{IPA2|baɾθeˈlona}}), '''برشلونة''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: '''Barshlounah,''') is the capital and most populous city of [[Catalonia]] and the second largest city in [[Spain]], with a population of 1,605,602 in 2006. It is located on the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast ({{coor dm|41|23|N|2|11|E|type:city(1,582,738)_region:ES}}), between the mouths of the rivers [[Llobregat]] and [[Besòs]], and is limited to the west by the [[Serra de Collserola]] ridge (512&nbsp;m).

This page documents scientific opinion as given by synthesis reports, bodies of national or international standing, and surveys of opinion among climate scientists. It does not document the views of individual scientists or [[self-selection|self-selected]] lists of individuals such as petitions.

Barcelona is a major economic centre, with one of Europe's principal [[Mediterranean sea|Mediterranean]] [[port]]s, and its airport is the second largest in Spain. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona and the [[Crown of Aragon]]. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of [[Antoni Gaudí]] and [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]] that have been designated [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]].

{{portal|energy}}

==Statements by organizations==

As the capital of [[Catalonia]], Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government, known as the [[Generalitat de Catalunya]]; of particular note are the [[Government of Catalonia|executive branch]], the [[Parliament of Catalonia|parliament]] and the [[Supreme Court of Catalonia]]. The city is also the capital of the county ([[Comarques of Catalonia|''comarca'']]) of the [[Barcelonès]].

=== Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ===

{{main|Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change}}

==Names==

In February 2007, the IPCC released a summary of the forthcoming [[IPCC Fourth Assessment Report|Fourth Assessment Report]]. According to this summary, the Fourth Assessment Report finds that human actions are "very likely" the cause of global warming, meaning a 90% or greater probability.<ref>{{cite news |title=Warming 'very likely' human-made |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6321351.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=[[2007-02-01]] |accessdate=2007-02-01 }}</ref>

The name ''Barcelona'' comes from the ancient Phoenician Iberian ''Barkeno''<!--Don't use [[Image:Barkeno.png|Barkeno in Levantine Iberian script]] for the moment: -KE- is missing-->; [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''{{polytonic|Βαρκινών}}'';<ref>[[Ptolemy]], ii. 6. §&nbsp;8</ref> [[Latin]]: ''Barcino'', ''Barcelo''<ref>[[Avienus]] ''Or. Mar.'',</ref> and ''Barceno''.<ref>[[Antonine Itinerary|Itin. Ant.]]</ref>

During the Middle Ages the city was variously known as ''Barchinona, Barçalona, Barchelona'' and ''Barchenona''.

==History==

"''The world's leading climate scientists said global warming has begun, is ''very likely'' caused by man, and will be unstoppable for centuries, ... . The phrase ''very likely'' translates to a more than 90 percent certainty that global warming is caused by man's burning of fossil fuels. That was the strongest conclusion to date, making it nearly impossible to say natural forces are to blame.''"[http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/science/AP-France-Climate-Change.html?hp&ex=1170478800&en=067b999b48306d1f&ei=5094&partner=homepage]

{{main|History of Barcelona}}

The foundation of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. The first attributes the founding of the city to [[Hercules]] 400&nbsp;years before the building of [[Rome]], and that it was rebuilt by the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] [[Hamilcar Barca]], father of [[Hannibal]], who named the city ''Barcino'' after his family, in the [[3rd century BC]]. The second legend attributes the foundation directly to Hamilcar Barca.<ref>Oros. vii. 143; Miñano, ''Diccion.'' vol.&nbsp;i. p.&nbsp;391; Auson. ''Epist.'' xxiv. 68, 69, ''Punica Barcino''.</ref>

About [[15 BC|15&nbsp;BC]], the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] redrew the town as a ''[[castra|castrum]]'' (Roman military camp) centred on the "''Mons Taber''", a little hill near the contemporary city hall ([[Plaça de Sant Jaume]]). Under the Romans it was a colony, with the surname of ''Faventia'',<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Plin.]] iii. 3. s.&nbsp;4</ref> or, in full, ''Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino''<ref>Inscr. ap. Gruter, p. 426, nos. 5, 6.</ref> or ''Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino''. [[Mela]]<ref>ii. 6</ref> mentions it among the small towns of the district, probably as it was eclipsed by its neighbour ''[[Tarraco]]'' (modern [[Tarragona]]); but it may be gathered from later writers that it gradually grew in wealth and consequence, favoured as it was with a beautiful situation and an excellent harbour.<ref>Avien. ''Or. Mar.'' 520: "Et Barcilonum amoena sedes ditium."</ref> It enjoyed immunity from imperial burdens.<ref>Paul. Dig. 1. tit. 15, de Cens.</ref> The city minted its own coins; some from the era of [[Galba]] survive.

"''The report said that an increase in hurricane and tropical cyclone strength since 1970 ''more likely than not'' can be attributed to man-made global warming. The scientists said global warming's connection varies with storms in different parts of the world, but that the storms that strike the Americas are global warming-influenced.''"[http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/science/AP-France-Climate-Change.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5094&en=067b999b48306d1f&hp&ex=1170478800&partner=homepage]

Some important Roman ruins are exposed under the [[Plaça del Rei]], entrance by the city museum ([[Museu d'Història de la Ciutat]]), and the typically Roman grid-planning is still visible today in the layout of the historical centre, the ''[[Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter"). Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into the cathedral.<ref>[http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/barcelona/walls/walls.html]</ref> The cathedral, also known as basilica ''La Seu'' is said to have been founded in [[343]]. The city was conquered by the [[Visigoths]] in the early [[fifth century]], by the [[Moors]] in the early [[eighth century]], reconquered from the emir in [[801]] by [[Charlemagne]]'s son [[Louis the Pious|Louis]] who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "[[Spanish Marches]]" (''Marca Hispanica''), a buffer zone ruled by the [[Count of Barcelona]]. Barcelona was still a Christian frontier territory when it was sacked by [[Al-Mansur (Abi Amir)|Al-Mansur]] in [[985]].

"''On sea levels, the report projects rises of 7-23 inches by the end of the century. That could be augmented by an additional 4-8 inches if recent surprising polar ice sheet melt continues.''"[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,249659,00.html]

The Counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include all of Catalonia, later the [[Crown of Aragon]] which conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories in Naples and Sicily and as far as [[Duke of Athens|Athens]] in the [[thirteenth century]]. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crowns of Aragon and [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline.

=== Joint science academies’ statement 2005 ===

In 2005 the national science academies of the [[G8]] nations, plus [[Brazil]], [[China]] and [[India]], three of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the developing world, signed a statement on the global response to climate change. The statement stresses that the scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action [http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/document.asp?latest=1&id=3222], and explicitly endorsed the IPCC consensus.

==Geography==

=== Joint science academies’ statement 2001 ===

[[Image:Barcelona ISS009-E-9987.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Barcelona as seen from space]]

In 2001, following the publication of the [[IPCC Third Assessment Report]], sixteen national science academies issued a joint statement explicitly acknowledging the IPCC position as representing the scientific conensus on climate change science. Among the signatories are the science academies of [[Australia]], [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Canada]], the [[Carribean]], [[China]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Malaysia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Sweden]], and the [[United Kingdom]].[http://www.royalsociety.org/displaypagedoc.asp?id=13619]

Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], facing the [[Mediterranean Sea]], on a plateau approximately 5&nbsp;km wide limited by the mountain range of [[Serra de Collserola|Collserola]], the [[Llobregat]] river to the south-west and the [[Besòs]] river to the north<ref name="gec_3">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana | title = Barcelona | year = 1971 | month = July | publisher = Edicions 62 | volume = 3 | ___location = Barcelona | pages = 193-229 }}</ref>. This plateau has 170 km²<ref name="gec_3" />, of which 101&nbsp;[[Square kilometre|km²]] (38.9&nbsp;[[Square mile|mi²]])<ref name="guies_estadistiques">[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/inf/guies/bcn.pdf Guies Estadístiques. Barcelona en Xifres. Novembre 2006.]</ref> are occupied by the city itself. It is 160&nbsp;[[Kilometre|km]] (100&nbsp;[[Mile|mi]]) south of the [[Pyrenees]] and the [[Catalonia]]n border with [[France]].

[[Serra de Collserola|Collserola]], part of the coastal mountain range, shelters the city to the north-west. Its highest point, the peak of [[Tibidabo]], 512&nbsp;m high, offers striking views over the city<ref>[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen/fullscreen33.html]</ref> and is topped by the 288.4&nbsp;m [[Torre de Collserola]], a telecommunications tower that is visible from most of the city. Barcelona is peppered with small hills, most of them urbanized and that gave their name to the neighbourhoods built upon them, such as [[Carmel]] (267&nbsp;m), [[Putxet]] (181&nbsp;m) and [[Rovira]] (261&nbsp;m). The escarpment of [[Montjuïc]] (173&nbsp;m), situated to the southeast, overlooks the harbour and is topped by [[Montjuïc castle]], a fortress built in the 17&ndash;18th centuries to control the city as a replacement for the Ciutadella. Today, the fortress is a museum and Montjuic is home to several sporting and cultural venues, as well as Barcelona's biggest park and gardens.

=== U.S. National Research Council, 2001 ===

In 2001 the Committee on the Science of Climate Change of the [[United States National Research Council|National Research Council]] published ''Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions'' [http://books.nap.edu/html/climatechange/]. This report explicitly endorses the IPCC view of attribution of recent climate change as representing the view of the scientific community:

The city borders are the municipalities of [[Santa Coloma de Gramenet]] and [[Sant Adrià de Besòs]] to the north; [[L'Hospitalet de Llobregat]] and [[Esplugues de Llobregat]] to the south; the Mediterranean Sea to the east; and [[Montcada i Reixac]] and [[Sant Cugat del Vallès]] to the west.

: The changes observed over the last several decades are likely mostly due to human activities, but we cannot rule out that some significant part of these changes is also a reflection of natural variability. Human-induced warming and associated sea level rises are expected to continue through the 21st century... The IPCC's conclusion that most of the observed warming of the last 50 years is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations accurately reflects the current thinking of the scientific community on this issue. [http://books.nap.edu/html/climatechange/summary.html]

===Climate===

=== American Meteorological Society ===

Barcelona has a [[Mediterranean climate]], with mild, dry winters and warm, humid summers. January and February are the coldest months, averaging temperatures of 10&nbsp;[[Degree Celsius|°C]] (50&nbsp;[[Degree Fahrenheit|°F]]). Snowfalls are so rare that they are remembered as special events. July and August are the hottest months, averaging temperatures of 25&nbsp;°C (77&nbsp;°F). The highest recorded maximum temperature in the city itself is 38.6&nbsp;°C.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/jgiro2002/estiu2003.html Grup dels Sis: 2003: Un Estiu Infernal]</ref> At the Fabra Observatory, situated on the [[Tibidabo|Tibidabo hill]], the record summer temperature is 39.8&nbsp;°C (103.6&nbsp;°F). <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/jgiro2002/clima.html Grup dels Sis: Climatologia de Catalunya]</ref> However, it should be noted that the observatory is situated in the hills above the city near Collserola park - an area where the impact of the "heat island" effect is likely to be diminished.<ref>[http://geographyfieldwork.com/BarcelonaHeatIsland.htm Barcelona's heat island]</ref>

The [[American Meteorological Society]] (AMS) statement adopted by their council in 2003 said:

===Cityscape===

: There is now clear evidence that the mean annual temperature at the Earth's surface, averaged over the entire globe, has been increasing in the past 200 years. There is also clear evidence that the abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased over the same period. In the past decade, significant progress has been made toward a better understanding of the climate system and toward improved projections of long-term climate change... Human activities have become a major source of environmental change. Of great urgency are the climate consequences of the increasing atmospheric abundance of greenhouse gases... Because greenhouse gases continue to increase, we are, in effect, conducting a global climate experiment, neither planned nor controlled, the results of which may present unprecedented challenges to our wisdom and foresight as well as have significant impacts on our natural and societal systems. [http://www.ametsoc.org/policy/climatechangeresearch_2003.html]

[[Image:Parcguell.jpg|thumb|250px|The entrance to Gaudi's "Park Güell"]]

====Parks====

Barcelona contains 68 municipal parks, divided into 12&nbsp;historic parks, 5&nbsp;thematic (botanical) parks, 45&nbsp;urban parks and 6&nbsp;forest parks.<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_mapa.htm Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Els Parcs de Barcelona]</ref> They range from vest-pocket parks to large recreation areas. The parks cover 10% of the city (549.7 ha),<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> growing about 10&nbsp;ha per year,<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_his_ciu.htm Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Història > La ciutat i el verd]</ref> with a proportion of 18.1 m² of park area per inhabitant.<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/cat/parcs/pa_his_demo.htm Parcs i Jardins > Els Parcs > Història > La democràcia]</ref>

Of Barcelona's parks, [[Montjuïc]] is the largest, with 203&nbsp;[[Hectare|ha]] located on the mountain of the same name.<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> It is followed by [[Ciutadella Park]] (situated in the place of the old military [[citadel]] and which houses the [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]] building, the [[zoo]] and several museums; 31&nbsp;ha including the zoo), the [[Guinardó Park]] (19&nbsp;ha), [[Park Güell]] (designed by [[Antoni Gaudí]]; 17.2&nbsp;ha), [[Oreneta Castle Park]] (also 17.2&nbsp;ha), [[Diagonal Mar Park]] (13.3&nbsp;ha, inaugurated in 2002), [[Nou Barris Central Park]] (13.2&nbsp;ha), [[Can Dragó Sports Park]] and [[Poblenou Park]] (both 11.9&nbsp;ha) and the [[Labyrinth Park]] (9.10&nbsp;ha), named after the garden maze it contains.<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> A part of the Collserolla Park is also within the city limits.

=== American Geophysical Union ===

The [[American Geophysical Union]] (AGU) statement <ref>http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/policy/climate_change_position.html</ref> adopted by the society in 2003 declares its virtual certainty that rising levels of greenhouse gases will cause the global surface temperature to be warmer:

====Beaches====

:"Human activities are increasingly altering the Earth's climate. These effects add to natural influences that have been present over Earth's history. Scientific evidence strongly indicates that natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in global near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century.

[[Image:050529 Barcelona 059.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Barceloneta beach]]

Barcelona has seven beaches, totalling 4.5&nbsp;[[Kilometre|km]] (2.8&nbsp;[[Mile|mi]]) of coastline. [[Sant Sebastià]] and [[Barceloneta]] beaches, both 1100&nbsp;m in length,<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> are the largest, oldest and the most frequented beaches in Barcelona. The Olympic port separates them from the other city beaches: Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant. These beaches (ranging from 400 to 640&nbsp;m) were opened as a result of the city restructuring to host the [[1992 Summer Olympics]], when a great number of industrial buildings were demolished. The [[2004 Universal Forum of Cultures]] left the city a sandless bathing zone, a sort of sea pool.

:Human impacts on the climate system include increasing concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and their substitutes, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.), air pollution, increasing concentrations of airborne particles, and land alteration. A particular concern is that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide may be rising faster than at any time in Earth's history, except possibly following rare events like impacts from large extraterrestrial objects.

====Other====

:Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have increased since the mid-1700s through fossil fuel burning and changes in land use, with more than 80% of this increase occurring since 1900. Moreover, research indicates that increased levels of carbon dioxide will remain in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years. It is virtually certain that increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will cause global surface climate to be warmer."

The area around the [[Plaça Catalunya]] makes up the city's historical centre and, alongside the upper half of the Diagonal avenue, is the main commercial area of the city. Barcelona has several commercial complexes, like L'Illa in the higher part of the Diagonal avenue and Diagonal Mar in the lowest, La Maquinista, Glòries in the place of the same name and the Maremagnum by the port.

Barcelona has several skyscrapers, the highest being the [[Hotel Arts]] and its twin the [[Torre Mapfre]], both 154&nbsp;m high, followed by the newest [[Torre Agbar]] 144&nbsp;m high.

=== American Institute of Physics ===

==Demographics==

The Governing Board of the [[American Institute of Physics]] endorsed the AGU statement on human-induced climate change <ref>[http://www.aip.org/fyi/2004/042.html ''Statement supporting AGU statement on human-induced climate change''', American Institute of Physics, 2003]</ref>;

[[Image:Demografía Barcelona (España).PNG|250px|right|thumb|Demographic evolution, 1900&ndash;2005, according to the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]

According to Barcelona's City Council, Barcelona's population as of [[2006-06-01]] was

1,673,075&nbsp;people,<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0203010.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Indicadors demogràfics. 2005]</ref> while the population of the [[Barcelona metropolitan area|Metropolitan Area]] was 3,161,081. It is the central nucleus of the [[Urban Region of Barcelona]], which relies on a population of 5,327,872 and covers an area of 4,268 km².

The [[population density]] of Barcelona was 15,779&nbsp;people per&nbsp;km²,<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201040.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Densitat de població. 2005]</ref> with [[Eixample]] being the most populated district. 62% of the inhabitants were born in [[Catalonia]], with a 23.5% coming from the rest of Spain. Of the 13.9% from other countries, a proportion which has more than tripled since 2001 when it was 3.9%,<ref name="guies_estadistiques" /> the majority come from (in order) [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Morocco]], [[Colombia]], [[Argentina]], [[Italy]], [[Pakistan]] and [[China]].<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201090.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Nacionalitat per sexe. 2005]</ref>

:The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics has endorsed a position statement on climate change adopted by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Council in December 2003.

95% of the population understand [[Catalan language|Catalan]], 74.6% can speak it, 75% can read it, and 47.1% can write it.<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0202050.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Coneixement de la llengua catalana per grans grups d'edat. 2001]</ref> While most of the population profess to be of the [[Catholic]] religion (208&nbsp;churches), actual church attendance figures are low. There are also a number of other groups, including various [[Evangelist]] (71&nbsp;locations, mostly professed by [[Roma in Spain|Roma]]), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (21&nbsp;[[Kingdom Halls]]), Jews, Muslims and [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (13&nbsp;locations).<ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/ab/asia/equipament/controller/0,2317,1653_71890_3,00.html?accio=llista_eq&primera_busqueda=true&temaOriginal=&tema=0040101011_Religion&que=&opcio2=&opcio=districte&districte=&zona=&carrer=&numero=&al= Barcelona: Directory: Theme: Religion]</ref>

=== American Astronomical Society ===

In 1900, Barcelona had a population of 533.000 people<ref name="gec_3" />, which grew steadily but slowly until 1950, when it started absorbing an hight number of people from other less-industrialized parts of Spain. Barcelona's population peaked in 1979 with 1,906,998 people, and fell throughout the 1980s and 1990s as more people sought a higher quality of life in outlying cities in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. After bottoming out in 2000 with 1,496,266 people, the city's population began to rise again as younger people started to return, causing a great increase in housing prices. <ref>[http://www.bcn.es/estadistica/catala/dades/anuari/cap02/C0201010.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Estadística: Evolució de la població. 1900-2005]</ref>

The [[American Astronomical Society]] has endorsed the AGU statement on climate change<ref>[http://www.aas.org/governance/council/resolutions.php#climate ''Statement supporting AGU statement on human-induced climate change''', American Astronomical Society, 2004]</ref>;

== Economy ==

:In endorsing the "Human Impacts on Climate" statement, the AAS recognizes the collective expertise of the AGU in scientific subfields central to assessing and understanding global change, and acknowledges the strength of agreement among our AGU colleagues that the global climate is changing and human activities are contributing to that change.

[[Image:Spain.Catalonia.Barcelona.Vista.Port.jpg|thumb|Barcelona's old harbour]]

Barcelona has a long-standing mercantile tradition. Less well known is that it was one of the earliest regions in continental Europe to begin industrialization, beginning with textile related works at the end of the [[eighteenth century]] but really gathering momentum in the mid [[nineteenth century]], when it became a major center for the production of textiles and machinery. Since then, manufacturing has played a large role in its history. The traditional importance in textiles is still reflected in Barcelona's importance as a major fashion center. In summer 2006, Barcelona became an host for the prestigious [[Bread & Butter]] urban fashion fair. The fair was so successful than, starting in 2007, Barcelona became the only host for Bread & Butter, that closed its original [[Berlin]] ___location.

As in other modern cities, the manufacturing sector has long since been overtaken by the services sector, though it remains important. The most important industries today are textile, chemistry, pharmaceutical, motor, electronic and printing. In the services sector, the most important are the logistics, publishing, telecommunications and computer sectors.

=== Federal Climate Change Science Program, 2006 ===

On May 2, 2006, the Federal Climate Change Science Program commissioned by the Bush administration in 2002 released the first of 21 assessments that concluded that there is ''clear evidence of human influences on the climate system (due to changes in greenhouse gases, aerosols, and stratospheric ozone)'' [http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap1-1/finalreport/sap1-1-final-execsum.pdf]. The study said that ''observed patterns of change over the past 50 years cannot be explained by natural processes alone'', though it did not state what percentage of climate change might be anthropogenic in nature.

Drawing upon its tradition of creative art and craftsmanship, Barcelona is nowadays also known for its award-winning industrial design. Barcelona also has several congress halls, notably [[La Fira]] (Trade Fair), that host a quickly growing number of national and international events each year, which had also meant the opening of new hotels each year. The [[Port of Barcelona]] is an important Mediterranean port, both for general containers cargo and for cruise ships.

=== Other concurring organizations ===

Other scientific organizations that have issued concurring position statements on climate change include the following.

*[[American Association for the Advancement of Science]]: "The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society." [http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702/aaas_climate_statement.pdf]

* Stratigraphy Commission of the [[Geological Society of London]]: "We find that the evidence for human-induced climate change is now persuasive, and the need for direct action compelling." [http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=Global_Warming_Essay]

*[[Geological Society of America]]: "The Geological Society of America (GSA) supports the scientific conclusions that Earth’s climate is changing; the climate changes are due in part to human activities; and the probable consequences of the climate changes will be significant and blind to geopolitical boundaries. Furthermore, the potential implications of global climate change and the time scale over which such changes will likely occur require active, effective, long-term planning." [http://www.geosociety.org/aboutus/position10.htm]

*[[American Association of State Climatologists]]: This statement noted the difficulties with predicting impacts due to climate change, while acknowledging that human activities are having an effect on climate: "The AASC recognizes that human activities have an influence on the climate system. Such activities, however, are not limited to greenhouse gas forcing and include changing land use and sulfate emissions, which further complicates the issue of climate prediction... Whatever policies are promulgated with respect to energy, it is imperative that policy makers recognize that climate, its variability and change has a broad impact on society. The policy responses too should also be broad...Finally, ongoing political debate about global energy policy should not stand in the way of common sense action to reduce societal and environmental vulnerabilities to climate variability and change." [http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/aasc/AASC-Policy-Statement-on-Climate.htm]

*[[Australian Medical Association]]: "Failure to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions has the potential to cause significant global public health problems... The AMA believes that an effective emissions control program could be instituted without having a negative impact on the Australian economy. This can best be achieved by combining energy conservation with new alternative technologies that would reduce dependency on fossil fuels... The AMA believes that the Federal Government should implement a National Greenhouse Policy that engages all Australians in ensuring that we meet the Kyoto target and start to dramatically cut our greenhouse pollution." [http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WOOD-5ZD6BT]

*[[American Chemical Society]]: "The overwhelming balance of evidence indicates that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the prudent and responsible course of action at this time. Although vigorous climate research is certainly needed to reduce uncertainties and to identify potential adverse effects, it should not forestall prudent action now to address the issue. ACS believes that public and private efforts today are essential to protect the global climate system for the well-being of future generations." [http://www.chemistry.org/portal/resources/ACS/ACSContent/government/statements/2004_statements/2004_07_global_climate_chg_env.pdf]

*[[American Quaternary Association]]: "Few credible scientists now doubt that humans have influenced the documented rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. The first government-led U.S. Climate Change Science Program synthesis and assessment report supports the growing body of evidence that warming of the atmosphere, especially over the past 50 years, is directly impacted by human activity." [http://www.agu.org/fora/eos/pdfs/2006EO360008.pdf]

Barcelona has one of the highest costs of living in Spain, second only to [[Madrid]] and ocuping the 31st position according to a report by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.<ref>[http://www.abc.es/20070618/economia-economia/madrid-barcelona-entre-ciudades_200706181319.html ABC.es: economia - economia - Madrid y Barcelona, entre las ciudades más caras del mundo para vivir]</ref>

=== Dissenting organizations ===

The only major scientific organization that rejects the finding of human influence on recent climate is the [[American Association of Petroleum Geologists]] (AAPG), according to a statement by the Council of

the American Quaternary Association.<ref>"The AAPG stands alone among scientific societies in its denial of human-induced effects on global warming." [http://www.agu.org/fora/eos/pdfs/2006EO360008.pdf]</ref> The AAPG Policy Statement on Climate Change Policy adopted in 1999 [http://dpa.aapg.org/gac/papers/climate_change.cfm] states

==Government and administrative divisions==

: "Recently published research results do not support the supposition of an anthropogenic cause of global climate change...Detailed examination of current climate data strongly suggests that current observations do not correlate with the assumptions or supportable projections of human-induced greenhouse effects."

{{seealso|Municipal elections in Barcelona|List of mayors of Barcelona}}

[[Image:Glories.jpg|250px|right|thumb|[[Glòries]] at night]]

Barcelona is governed by a city council formed by 41 city councilors, [[Municipal elections in Barcelona|elected]] for a four-year term by [[universal suffrage]]. As one of the two biggest cities in Spain (the other being [[Madrid]]), Barcelona is subject to a special law articulated through the ''Carta Municipal'' (Municipal Law). A first version of this law was passed in [[1960]] and amended later, but the current version was approved in March 2006.<ref name="ley 1/2006">[http://www.boe.es/g/es/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=2006/04583 BOE - LEY 1/2006, de 13 de marzo, por la que se regula el Régimen Especial del municipio de Barcelona.]</ref> According to his law, Barcelona's city council is organized in two levels: a political one, with elected city councilors, and one executive, which administrates the programs and executes the decisions taken on the political level. <ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,2687,200713899_200720868_1,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Ajuntament > El Govern de la Ciutat]</ref> This law also gives the local government a special relationship with the central government and it also gives the mayor wider prerogatives by the means of municipal executive commissions.<ref>[http://www.bcn.cat/catala/laciutat/barcelona/organitzacio.htm Ajuntament de Barcelona: Organització política]</ref> It expands the powers of the city council in areas like telecommunications, city traffic, road safety and public safety. It also gives a special economic regime to the city's treasury and it gives the council a [[veto]] in matters that will be decided by the central government, but that will need a favourable report from the council.<ref name="ley 1/2006" />

The ''Comissió de Govern'' (Government Commission) is the [[executive (government)|executive]] branch, formed by 24 councilors, led by the [[List of mayors of Barcelona|Mayor]], with 5 lieutenant-mayors and 17 city councilors, each in charge of an area of government, and 5 non-elected councilors. <ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720894_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Council Executive]</ref> The plenary, formed by the 41 city councilors, has advisory, planning, regulatory, and fiscal executive functions.<ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720876_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Plenary]</ref> The six ''Comissions del Consell Municipal'' (City council comissions) have executive and controlling functions in the field of their jurisdiction. They are composed by a number of councilors proportional to the number of councilors each political party has in the plenary.<ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200720890_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The city government> Committees of the Municipal Council]</ref> The city council has jurisdiction in the fields of [[city planning]], transportation, municipal taxes, public highways security through the ''[[Guardia Urbana]]'' (the municipal police), city maintenance, gardens, parks and environment, facilities (like schools, nurseries, sports centres, libraries, etc.), culture, sports, youth and [[social welfare]]. Some of these competencies are not exclusive, but shared with the Generalitat de Catalunya or the central [[Government of Spain|Spanish government]].

As of March 2007, the AAPG is in the process of developing an updated "fact sheet" on global warming to replace the current statement, in part because "the current policy statement is not supported by a significant number of our members and prospective members." [http://www.aapg.org/explorer/president/2007/03mar.cfm]

The executive branch is led by a Chief Municipal Executive Officer which answers to the Mayor. It is made up of departments which are legally part of the city council and by separate legal entities of two tipes: autonomous public departments and public enterprises. <ref>[http://w3.bcn.es/V61/Home/V61HomeLinkPl/0,4358,200713899_200722250_3,00.html Ajuntament de Barcelona > Council> The municipal administration]</ref>

===Scientific consensus===

A question which frequently arises in conveying the scientific opinion to a broader audience is to what extent that opinion rises to the level of a consensus. Several scientific organizations have used the term in their statements:

*[[American Association for the Advancement of Science]]: "The conclusions in this statement reflect the scientific consensus represented by, for example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the Joint National Academies' statement." [http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702/aaas_climate_statement.pdf]

*[[United States National Academy of Sciences|US National Academy of Science]]: "In the judgment of most climate scientists, Earth’s warming in recent decades has been caused primarily by human activities that have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. ... On climate change, [the National Academies’ reports] have assessed consensus findings on the science..." [http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/climate-change-final.pdf]

*Joint Science Academies: "We recognise the international scientific consensus of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)." [http://nationalacademies.org/onpi/06072005.pdf]

*[[American Meteorological Society]]: "The nature of science is such that there is rarely total agreement among scientists. Individual scientific statements and papers—the validity of some of which has yet to be assessed adequately—can be exploited in the policy debate and can leave the impression that the scientific community is sharply divided on issues where there is, in reality, a strong scientific consensus. The IPCC was established ... to fulfill the critical role of providing objective scientific, technical, and economic assessments of the current state of knowledge about various aspects of climate change. IPCC assessment reports are prepared ... by a large international group of experts who represent the broad range of expertise and perspectives relevant to the issues. The reports strive to reflect a consensus evaluation of the results of the full body of peer-reviewed research. ... They provide an analysis of what is known and not known, the degree of consensus, and some indication of the degree of confidence that can be placed on the various statements and conclusions." [http://www.ametsoc.org/POLICY/climatechangeresearch_2003.html]

The seat of the city council is on the Plaça Sant Jaume, opposite the seat of Generalitat de Catalunya. Since the [[Spanish transition to democracy|coming of the Spanish democracy]], Barcelona [[Municipal elections in Barcelona|has been governed]] by the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]], first with an absolute majority and later in coalition with [[Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya|ERC]] and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]]. Since the May 2007 elections, PSC is governing in minority only with IC, since ERC decided against a renewal of the previous coalition. The second most voted party in Barcelona is [[Convergència i Unió|CiU]], followed by [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]], both currently in the opposition.

==Recent surveys of scientists and scientific literature==

Various surveys have been conducted to determine a [[scientific consensus]] on [[global warming]]. Few have been conducted within the last ten years.

===Administrative divisions===

=== Oreskes, 2004 ===

Since 1997, the city has been divided into 10&nbsp;administrative districts (''districtes''), each one with its own council led by a city councillor. The composition of each district council depends on the number of votes each political party had in that district, so a district can be led by a councillor from a different party than the executive council.

A 2004 article by geologist and historian of science [[Naomi Oreskes]] summarized a study of the scientific literature on climate change.<ref>{{cite journal

| author = Naomi Oreskes

| date = December 3, 2004

| title = Beyond the Ivory Tower: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change

| journal = Science

| volume = 306

| issue = 5702

| pages = 1686

| doi = 10.1126/science.1103618

| url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686 }} ([http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publication_files/resource-1761-2005.32.pdf#search=%22%22Consensus%20About%20Climate%20Change%3F%22%20oreskes%22 see also for an exchange of letters to Science])</ref> The essay concluded that there is a [[scientific consensus]] on the reality of [[anthropogenic climate change]]. The author analyzed 928 [[abstract (summary)|abstracts]] of papers from refereed scientific journals between 1993 and 2003, listed with the keywords "global climate change". Oreskes divided the abstracts into six categories: explicit endorsement of the consensus position, evaluation of impacts, mitigation proposals, methods, [[Paleoclimatology|paleoclimate]] analysis, and rejection of the consensus position. 75% of the abstracts were placed in the first three categories, thus either explicitly or implicitly accepting the consensus view; 25% dealt with methods or paleoclimate, thus taking no position on current anthropogenic climate change; none of the abstracts disagreed with the consensus position, which the author found to be "remarkable". It was also pointed out, "authors evaluating impacts, developing methods, or studying paleoclimatic change might believe that current climate change is natural. However, none of these papers argued that point."

The administrative divisions are based mostly on historical divisions. Several of the city's districts are former towns annexed by the city of Barcelona in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that still maintain their own distinct character. The official names of these districts are in the [[Catalan language]].

=== Bray and von Storch, 2003 ===

====Districts and neighbourhoods====

A survey<ref>[http://w3g.gkss.de/G/mitarbeiter/bray/BrayGKSSsite/BrayGKSS/surveyframe.html]</ref> was conducted in 2003 by Dennis Bray and [[Hans von Storch]]. Bray's submission to ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' on December 22, 2004 was rejected <ref>[http://www.sepp.org/Archive/NewSEPP/Bray.htm]</ref> but the survey's results were reported through non-scientific venues<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/01/wglob01.xml]</ref> <ref>[http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17181]</ref> <ref>[http://www.quebecoislibre.org/05/050515-2.htm]</ref>. The survey has been criticized on the grounds that it was performed on the web with no means to verify that the respondents were climate scientists or to prevent multiple submissions by the same individual. The survey required entry of a username and password, but this information was circulated to a climate skeptics mailing list and elsewhere on the internet.<ref>"[http://timlambert.org/2005/05/bray/ Useless on-line survey of climate scientists]"</ref><ref>[http://aslo.org/pipermail/dialognews/2003/000105.html DIALOG and DISCCRS News]</ref> The survey received 530 responses from 27 different countries. One of the questions asked was ''"To what extent do you agree or disagree that climate change is mostly the result of anthropogenic causes?"'', with a value of 1 indicating strongly agree and a value of 7 indicating strongly disagree. The results showed a mean of 3.62, with 50 responses (9.4%) indicating "strongly agree" and 54 responses (9.7%) indicating "strongly disagree". The same survey indicates a 72% to 20% endorsement of the IPCC reports as accurate, and a 15% to 80% rejection of the thesis that ''"there is enough uncertainty about the phenomenon of global warming that there is no need for immediate policy decisions"''.

[[Image:MapaBCN Distritos01.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Districts]]

{{main|Districts of Barcelona}}

*''[[Ciutat Vella]]'' ("Old City"): [[El Raval]] (also known in Spanish as the ''Barrio Chino'', ("[[Chinatown]]"), the ''[[Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter"), [[La Barceloneta]] and the ''Barri de la Ribera''.

*[[Eixample]]: Sant Antoni, ''Esquerra de l'Eixample'' ("the left side of the Eixample" facing away from the sea), ''Dreta de l'Eixample'' ("the right side of the Eixample"), ''Barri de la Sagrada Família'', Fort Pienc, ''Sant Antoni''

*[[Sants]]&ndash;[[Montjuïc]]: Poble Sec, La Marina, La Font de La Guatlla, La Bordeta, Hostafrancs, Sants, Badal.

*[[Les Corts]]: Les Corts, La Maternitat, Pedralbes.

*[[Sarrià-Sant Gervasi]]: Tres Torres, Sarrià, Vallvidrera, Bonanova, Sant Gervasi, Putxet-Farró, Galvany.

*[[Gràcia]]: Vallcarca, [[El Coll]], La Salut, Gràcia, El Camp d'en Grassot

*[[Horta-Guinardó]]: Horta, [[El Carmel]], La Teixonera, El Guinardó (Alt i Baix), La Clota, La Vall D'Hebron, Montbau

*[[Nou Barris]]: Can Peguera, Porta, Canyelles, Ciutat Meridiana, Guineueta, Prosperitat, Vallbona, Verdum, Vilapicina, Roquetes, Trinitat Vella, Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Torre Llobeta and Turó de la Peira.

*[[Sant Andreu]]: La Segrera, Trinitat Vella, Bon Pastor, Sant Andreu, Navas, Baró de Viver

*[[Sant Martí]]: Diagonal Mar, Fort Pius, San Martí de Provençals, Poble Nou, La Verneda, El Clot

==Older surveysEducation==

{{main|Education in Catalonia}}

=== Survey of U.S. state climatologists 1997 ===

Barcelona has a well-developed [[higher education]] system of [[Public university|public universities]]. Most prominent among these is the [[University of Barcelona]], a world-renowned research and teaching institution with [[campus]]es around the city. Barcelona is also home to the [[Polytechnic University of Catalonia]], the newer [[Pompeu Fabra University]] and, in the private sector, the [[Ramon Llull University]] encompassing internationally renowned institutions like [[ESADE]] Business School. The [[Autonomous University of Barcelona]], another public university, is located in [[Bellaterra]], a town in the [[Barcelona metropolitan area|Metropolitan Area]].

In 1997, [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] surveyed America's 48 official state climatologists on questions related to climate change [http://web.archive.org/web/19980525144333/http://www.cse.org/surveyenviroreg100897.htm].

Of the 36 respondents, 44% considered global warming to be a largely natural phenomenon, compared to 17% who considered warming to be largely manmade. The survey further found that 58% disagreed or somewhat disagreed with then-President Clinton's assertion that "the overwhelming balance of evidence and scientific opinion is that it is no longer a theory, but now fact, that global warming is for real". Eighty-nine percent agreed that "current science is unable to isolate and measure variations in global temperatures caused ONLY by man-made factors," and 61% said that historical data do not indicate "that fluctuations in global temperatures are attributable to human influences such as burning fossil fuels."

The city has a network of public schools, from nurseries to high schools, under the responsibility of the city council (though the student subjects are the responsibility of the Generalitat de Catalunya). There are also many private schools, some of them [[Roman Catholic]]. Like other cities in Spain, Barcelona now faces the integration of a large number of immigrant children from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

60% of the respondents said that reducing man-made CO2 emissions by 15% below 1990 levels would not prevent global temperatures from rising, and 86% said that reducing emissions to 1990 levels would not prevent rising temperatures. 39% agreed and 33% disagreed that "evidence exists to suggest that the earth is headed for another glacial period," [http://www.globalwarming.org/article.php?uid=64] though the time scale for the next glacial period was not specified.

==Culture==

=== Bray and von Storch, 1996 ===

{{main|Culture of Barcelona}}

In 1996, Dennis Bray and Hans von Storch undertook a survery of climate scientists on attitudes towards global warming and related matters. The results were subsequently published in the [[Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society]]. [http://w3g.gkss.de/G/Mitarbeiter/storch/pdf/bray_storch_1999.pdf] The paper addressed the views of climate scientists, with a response rate of 40% from a mail survey questionnaire to 1000 scientists in [[Germany]], the [[USA]] and [[Canada]]. Most of the scientists believed that global warming was occurring and appropriate policy action should be taken, but there was wide disagreement about the likely effects on society and almost all agreed that the predictive ability of currently existing models was limited.

[[Image:Liceu.jpg|thumb|200px|The façade of the Liceu, as viewed from La Rambla]]

Barcelona's cultural roots go back 2000 years. To a greater extent than the rest of Catalonia, where Catalonia's native [[Catalan language|Catalan]] is more dominant, Barcelona is a bilingual city: [[Catalan language|Catalan]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] are both official languages and widely spoken. The Catalan spoken in Barcelona, [[Central Catalan]], is the one closest to standard Catalan. Since the [[Spanish transition to democracy|arrival of democracy]], the Catalan culture (very much repressed during the [[Spain under Franco|dictatorship]]) has been promoted, both by recovering works from the past and by stimulating the creation of new works. Barcelona is designated as a [[global city|world-class city]] by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citylist.html |title = Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network - Inventory of World Cities |accessdate = 2007-07-07 }}</ref>

===Entertainment and performing arts===

The abstract says:

Barcelona has many venues for live music and theatre, including the world-renowned [[Liceu|Gran Teatre del Liceu]] opera theatre, the [[Teatre Nacional de Catalunya]], the [[Teatre Lliure]] and the [[Palau de la Música Catalana]] concert hall. Barcelona also is home to the [[Sónar]] Music Festival<ref>[http://www.sonar.es Sónar Music Festival]</ref> which takes place around June every year, and to the Barcelona and Catalonia National Symphonic Orchestra (Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, usually known as OBC) is the largest symphonic orchestra in Catalonia. In 1999, the OBC inaugurated its new venue in the brand-new Auditorium (''l'Auditori''). It performs around 75 concerts per season and its current director is [[Eiji Oue]].<ref>[http://www.auditori.org/seccions/auditori/oferta_musical/auditori_obc/index.aspx L'Auditori: OBC]</ref>

===Museums===

:The international consensus was, however, apparent regarding the utility of the knowledge to date: climate science has provided enough knowledge so that the initiation of abatement measures is warranted. However, consensus also existed regarding the current inability to explicitly specify detrimental effects that might result from climate change. This incompatibility between the state of knowledge and the calls for action suggests that, to some degree at least, scientific advice is a product of both scientific knowledge and normative judgment, suggesting a socioscientific construction of the climate change issue.

Barcelona houses a great number of museums, which cover different areas and eras. The [[Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya|National Museum of Art of Catalonia]] possesses a well-known collection of [[Romanesque art]] while the [[Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art]] focuses on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art. The [[Fundació Joan Miró]], [[Museu Picasso|Picasso Museum]] and [[Fundació Antoni Tàpies]] hold important collections of these world-renowned artists.

Several museums cover the fields of history and archeology, like the City History Museum, the Museum of the History of Catalonia, the [[Archaeology Museum of Catalonia]], the Barcelona Maritime Museum and the private-owned Egiptian Museum. The Erotic museum of Barcelona is among the most peculiar ones, while Cosmocaixa is a [[science museum]] that received the [[European Museum of the Year Award]] in 2006.

The survey was extensive, and asked numerous questions on many aspects of climate science, model formulation, and utility, and science/public/policy interactions. To pick out some of the more vital topics, from the body of the paper:

===Architecture===

: The resulting questionnaire, consisting of 74 questions, was pre-tested in a German institution and after revisions, distributed to a total of 1,000 scientists in North America and Germany... The number of completed returns was as follows: USA 149, Canada 35, and Germany 228, a response rate of approximately 40%...

[[Image:Sagradafamilia-overview.jpg|thumb|250px|The Sagrada Família church, Gaudi's masterpiece]]

The ''[[Barri Gòtic]]'' ("Gothic Quarter" in Catalan) is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. Many of the buildings date from medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. Catalan ''[[modernisme]]'' architecture (often known as [[Art Nouveau]] in the rest of Europe), developed between [[1885]] and [[1950]] and left an important legacy in Barcelona. A great number of these buildings are [[World Heritage Sites]]. Especially remarkable is the work of architect [[Antoni Gaudí]], which can be seen throughout the city. His best known work is the immense but still unfinished church of the [[Sagrada Família]], which has been under construction since 1882, and is still financed by private donations. As of 2007, completion is planned for [[2026]].

Barcelona won the 1999 [[RIBA]] [[Royal Gold Medal]] for its architecture<ref>[http://www.architecture.com/fileLibrary/pdf/Royal_Gold_Medallists_at_09112006.pdf RIBA Royal Gold Medallists]</ref>, the first (as of 2007, only) time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect.

: ...With a value of 1 indicating the highest level of belief that predictions are possible and a value of 7 expressing the least faith in the predictive capabilities of the current state of climate science knowledge, the mean of the entire sample of 4.6 for the ability to make reasonable predictions of inter-annual variability tends to indicate that scientists feel that reasonable prediction is not yet a possibility... mean of 4.8 for reasonable predictions of 10 years... mean of 5.2 for periods of 100 years...

===World Heritage Sites in Barcelona===

: ...a response of a value of 1 indicates a strong level of agreement with the statement of certainty that global warming is already underway or will occur without modification to human behavior... the mean response for the entire sample was 3.3 indicating a slight tendency towards the position that global warming has indeed been detected and is underway.... Regarding global warming as being a possible future event, there is a higher expression of confidence as indicated by the mean of 2.6.

*Works of [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]], [[Palau de la Música Catalana]] and [[Hospital de Sant Pau]], included in the list in 1997.

*Works of [[Antoni Gaudí]], including [[Park Güell]], [[Palau Güell]], [[Casa Milà]], [[Casa Vicens]], [[Sagrada Família]] (Nativity façade and crypt), [[Casa Batlló]], Crypt in Colonia Güell. The first three works were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984. The other four were added as extensions to the site in 2005.

===Media===

=== Other older surveys of scientists ===

''[[El Periódico de Catalunya]]'' (Catalan and Spanish editions) and ''[[La Vanguardia]]'' (Spanish) are Barcelona's two major daily newspapers while ''[[Sport (newspaper)|Sport]]'' and ''[[El Mundo Deportivo]]'' (both in Spanish) are the city's two major sports daily newspapers, published by the same companies. The city is also served by a number of smaller publications such as ''[[Avui]]'' and ''[[El Punt]]'' (both in Catalan), by nation-wide newspapers with special Barcelona editions like ''[[El Pais]]'' and ''[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]'' (both in Spanish), and by several free newspapers like ''[[Metro International|Metro]]'', ''[[20 minutos]]'', ''ADN'' and ''Què'' (bilingual).

Note that the following surveys are over 15 years old. The state of climate science and the beliefs of climate scientists have changed radically since their time, as demonstrated by the reviews cited above.

*Global Environmental Change Report, 1990: GECR climate survey shows strong agreement on action, less so on warming. Global Environmental Change Report 2, No. 9, pp. 1-3

*[http://www.albany.edu/cpr/stewart/ Stewart], T.R., Mumpower, J.L., and Reagan-Cirincione, P. (1992). Scientists' opinions about global climate change: Summary of the results of a survey. NAEP (National Association of Environmental Professionals) Newsletter, 17(2), 6-7.

* A [[1991]] [[Gallup poll]] of 400 members of the [[American Geophysical Union]] and the [[American Meteorological Society]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

** [[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting]] states that the report said that 66 % of the scientists said that human-induced global warming was occurring, with 10 % disagreeing and the rest undecided. In a correction Gallup stated: "Most scientists involved in research in this area believe that human-induced global warming is occurring now."

** [[George Will]] reported "53 percent do not believe warming has occurred, and another 30 percent are uncertain." (Washington Post, September 3, 1992)

** A 1993 publication by the [[Heartland Institute]] states: "A Gallup poll conducted on February 13, 1992 of members of the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society - the two professional societies whose members are most likely to be involved in climate research - found that 18 percent thought some global warming had occurred, 33 percent said insufficient information existed to tell, and 49 percent believed no warming had taken place."[http://www.heartland.org/pdf/2329do.pdf]

Several major FM stations include [[Catalunya Ràdio]], [[RAC 1]], [[RAC 105]] and [[Cadena SER]]. Barcelona also has several local TV stations, among them [[Barcelona Televisió|BTV]] (owned by city council) and [[8TV]] (owned by the Godó group, that also owns ''La Vanguardia''). The headquarters of [[Televisió de Catalunya]], Catalonia's public network, are located in [[Sant Joan Despí]], in Barcelona's metropolitan area.

==See also==

* [[Attribution of recent climate change]]

* [[Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change]]

* [[Global warming controversy]]

* [[Scientists opposing the mainstream scientific assessment of global warming]]

==References= Sports ===

[[Image:Camp nou.jpg|thumb|250px|The ''[[Camp Nou]] ''[[stadium]]]]

<references/>

Barcelona has a long sporting tradition and hosted the successful [[1992 Summer Olympics]] as well as several matches from the [[1982 Football World Cup]]. It has also been host to the [[2003 World Aquatics Championships|X FINA World Championships]] and twice of the [[Eurobasket]].

[[FC Barcelona]] is a [[sports club]] best known for its [[football (soccer)|football]] team, one of the biggest in Europe, twice winner of the [[UEFA Champions League]]. FC Barcelona also has teams in the Spanish [[basketball]] [[Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto|ACB]] league ([[FC Barcelona (basketball)|Winterthur FCB]]), the [[team handball|handball]] [[Liga ASOBAL|ASOBAL]] league ([[FC Barcelona (handball)|FC Barcelona-Cifec]]), and the [[roller hockey]] league. The club's museum is the second most visited in Catalonia. [[RCD Espanyol]] is the city's other [[La Liga|Liga]] football team. Barcelona also has other clubs in lower categories, like [[CE Europa]] and [[UE Sant Andreu]].

==External links==

*[http://www.epa.gov/climatechange US EPA climate change and global warming website]

*[http://www.nrsp.com/NRSP-Media/Audio_Wave/InsightsOct18_10-00a.mp3 Univ. of Victoria Radio Interview October 18, 2006, Timothy Ball, former Professor of Climatology, Univ. of Winnipeg] (mp3)

*[http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/119 Sherwood Rowland (Nobel Laureate for work on ozone depletion) gives his opinion on climate change 2006] Freeview video provided by the Vega Science Trust.

*[http://www4.nationalacademies.org/onpi/webextra.nsf/web/climate?OpenDocument Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions], National Academy of Sciences

*[http://nationalacademies.org/onpi/06072005.pdf Joint Science Academies' Statement: Global Response to Climate Change], National Academy of Sciences

*[http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10445-climate-change-special-state-of-denial.html Climate change special: State of denial] ''[[New Scientist]]'' [[4 November]] 2006

*[http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/denialmachine The Denial Machine] ''[[CBC Television]]'' 15 November 2006

Barcelona has two [[UEFA]] [[UEFA Stadia List|5-star rated]] football stadiums: FC Barcelona's [[Camp Nou]] and the [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]], used for the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympics]] and the current home of Espanyol, pending completion of the club's new stadium.

{{global warming}}

The [[Open Seat Godó]], a 50-year-old [[ATP Tour]] [[International Series Gold tennis tournaments|International Series Gold tennis tournament]], is held annually in the facilities of the Reial Club de Tenis Barcelona (Barcelona Royal Tennis Club). Several popular running competitions are organized year-round in Barcelona: Cursa del Corte Inglés (with about 60,000 participants each year){{Fact|date=July 2007}}, Cursa de la Mercè, Cursa Jean Bouin, Milla Sagrada Família and the San Silvestre. Also, each Christmas, a swimming race across the port is organized. Near Barcelona, in [[Montmeló]], the 131,000 capacity [[Circuit de Catalunya]] racetrack hosts the [[Spanish Grand Prix|Formula One Spanish Grand Prix]] and the [[Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix]]. Barcelona has also become [[Skateboarding in Barcelona|very popular]] with [[skateboarding|skateboarders]], which has led to a new anti-skateboarding law, which came into effect in 2006.

[[Category:Climate change assessment and attribution]]

[[Category:Ecology]]

== Transportation and infrastructures ==

===Airports===

Barcelona is served by [[Barcelona International Airport]] in the town of [[El Prat de Llobregat]], about 3&nbsp;km from Barcelona. It is the second-largest airport in Spain, and the largest on the Mediterranean coast. It is a main hub for [[Vueling Airlines]] and [[Clickair]], and also a focus for [[Spanair]], [[Air Europa]] and [[Iberia Airlines|Iberia]]. The airport mainly serves domestic and European destinations, but some airlines offer destinations in [[Asia]] and the [[United States]]. The airport is connected to the city by highway, commuter train and scheduled bus service. The airport handled 30,008,152 passengers <ref>[http://www14.aena.es/csee/ccurl/Anyo%202006.pdf]</ref> in 2006. A new terminal is being built, and its expected to enter service in 2009.

[[Sabadell Airport]] is a smaller airport in the nearby town of [[Sabadell]], devoted to pilot training, advertising flights, aerotaxi and private flights. Some low-cost airlines, like [[Ryanair]] and [[Martinair]], prefer to use [[Girona-Costa Brava Airport]], situated about 90&nbsp;km to the north of Barcelona and [[Reus Airport]], situated 77&nbsp;km to the south.

[[Image:Catalunya-Barcelona-Maremagnum.jpg|thumb|200px|The footbridge that connects the Port Vell to the Maremagnum.]]

===Seaport===

The Port of Barcelona has a 2000-year history and a great contemporary commercial importance. It is the most important Mediterranean port for general cargo of containers and cruisers. The port is managed by the Port Authority of Barcelona. Its 7.86&nbsp;km² are divided into three zones: Port Vell (the Old Port), the commercial port and the logistics port ([[Barcelona Free Port]]). The port is undergoing an enlargement that will double its size thanks to diverting the mouth of the [[Llobregat]] river 2&nbsp;km to the south.<ref>[http://www.apb.es/en/WELCOME Port de Barcelona]</ref>

The Port Vell area also houses the Maremagnum (a commercial mall), a multiplex cinema, the [[IMAX]] Port Vell and an aquarium.

===Public transportation===

[[Image:Tranbaix.jpg|thumb|right|Barcelona's new "Trambaix" streetcars]]

Barcelona is served by a comprehensive local public transport network that includes a [[metro]], a [[bus]] network, two separate [[tram]] networks (one of them, the Tramvia blau,<ref>[http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/planols/planotramviablau.jsp Information of Tramvia Blau]</ref> connects to the Tibidabo [[funicular]]), and several funiculars and [[aerial tramway|aerial cable cars]]. The [[Barcelona Metro]] network comprises nine lines, identified by an "L" followed by the line number as well as by individual colours. Most of the network is operated by the [[Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona]] (TMB), but three lines are FGC commuter lines that run through the city. When finished, the L9 will be the longest underground metro line in Europe with 42.6km.

The TMB also operates the city's tram networks, known as [[Trambaix]] and [[Trambesòs]], and the city's daytime bus network, as well as a touristic bus service. The night bus network, known as Nitbus, is operated by [[Mohn SL. Transports Ciutat Comtal|Mohn]]. [[Transports Ciutat Comtal]] operates the regular Tomb Bus (across the Diagonal avenue) and Aerobus (to the airport) services. Other companies operate services that connect the city with towns in the metropolitan area.

The [[Funicular de Montjuïc]] cable car climbs the [[Montjuïc]] hill. The cable cars of [[Funicular de Vallvidrera|Vallvidrera]] and [[Funicular de Tibidabo|Tibidabo]] climb the [[Tibidabo]] hill. The city has two aerial cable cars: one to the Montjuïc castle and another that runs via [[Torre Jaume I]] and [[Torre Sant Sebastia]] over the port.

Barcelona is a major hub for [[RENFE]], the Spanish state railway network, and its main intercity train station is [[Sants Estació]]. The [[AVE]] [[high-speed rail]] system was recently extended from [[Madrid]] to [[Tarragona]] in southern Catalonia, and is expected to reach Barcelona by 2007. [[Cercanías|Renfe cercanías/rodalies]] and the [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya]] (FGC) run Barcelona's widespread [[commuter train]] service.

[[Image:050529 Barcelona 107b.jpg|thumb|left|Barcelona taxi]]

The [[Estació del Nord]] (Northern Station), a former train station that was renovated for the 1992 Olympic Games, now serves as the terminus for long-distance and regional bus services.

Barcelona has a [[Taxicab|metered taxi]] fleet governed by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi (Metropolitan Taxi Institute), composed of more than 10,000 cars. Most of the licenses are in the hands of self-employed drivers.<ref>[http://bcnweb2.bcn.es:8885/taxi/infocorp/informacio.html L'Administració i la gestió del Taxi de Barcelona]</ref> With their black and yellow livery, Barcelona's taxis are easily spotted.

On March 22, 2007<ref>[http://www.bicing.com/noticias/detalle_noticia.php?TU5fTk9USUNJQVM%3D&Ng%3D%3D&MQ%3D%3D Bicing: Noticies: Data d'inici 22 de març a les 14:00 h. Pots realitzar l'alta al servei a partir del dia 16/03/07.]</ref>, Barcelona's City Council started the Bicing service, a bicycle service understood as a public transport. Once the user has their user card, they can take a bicycle from any of the 100 stations spread around the city and use it anywhere the urban area of the city, and then leave it at another station<ref>[http://www.bicing.com/modulos/modulos.php?TU5fSU5GT1JNQUNJT04%3D&NA%3D%3D&Nw%3D%3D Bicing: Què és Bicing?]</ref>. The service has been a success, with 50.000 subscribed users in three months.<ref>[http://www.bicing.com/noticias/detalle_noticia.php?TU5fTk9USUNJQVM%3D&Ng%3D%3D&MzA%3D Bicing: Notícies: EL BICING JA TÉ MÉS DE 50.000 ABONATS.]</ref>

===Roads and highways===

Barcelona is belted by two Rondes, the Ronda de Dalt (on the mountain side) and the Ronda del Litoral (alongside the coast), two partially-covered<ref>[http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/rutes/rondes_fr.htm The covered Rondes (by-pass)]</ref> fast highways with several exits that allow to bypass the city.

The city's main arteries include the Diagonal Avenue, which crosses the city in diagonal (hence the name); the Meridiana Avenue which leads to the Glories Place and connects with the Diagonal Avenue and the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, which crosses the city from north to south, including the center of the city.

==Sister cities==

Barcelona has [[Town twinning|sister relationships]] with many places worldwide:

{{col-start}}

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*{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Alghero]], [[Italy]]

*{{flagicon|Algeria}} [[Algiers]], [[Algeria]]

*{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]

*{{flagicon|United States}} [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[United States|USA]]

*{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Busan]], [[South Korea]]

*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]

*{{flagicon|Russia}} [[St.Petersburg]], [[Russia]]

*{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]

*{{flagicon|Palestine}} [[Gaza]], [[Palestinian National Authority]]

*{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Gdańsk]], [[Poland]]

*{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]

* {{flagicon|UAE}} [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]

Other forms of cooperation and city friendship similar to the twin city programmes:

* {{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Niš]], [[Serbia]]

{{col-3}}

*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]

*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kobe]], [[Japan]]

*{{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Medellín]], [[Colombia]]

*{{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Montevideo]], [[Uruguay]]

*{{flagicon|France}} [[Montpellier]], [[France]]

*{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Montreal]], [[Canada]]

*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]]

*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]]

*{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]]

*{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]

{{col-end}}

==Other sights==

<center><gallery>

image:Sta-eulalia.jpg|[[Barcelona Cathedral]]

Image:Sagrada familia by night 2006.jpg|[[Sagrada Família]] at night

Image:InteriorSantaMariaMarBarcelona.jpg|[[Santa Maria del Mar (Barcelona)|Santa Maria del Mar]] Church

Image:050529 Barcelona 099.jpg|[[Santa Maria del Pi]] Church

Image:Spain.Barcelona.Porta.del.Angel.jpg| [[Portal de l'Àngel]]

Image:Jfader batto facade.jpg|[[Casa Batlló]]

Image:Casa Milà - Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|[[Casa Milà]] (La Pedrera)

Image:050529 Barcelona 135.jpg| The [[Palau Nacional]] which houses the [[Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya|MNAC]]

Image:Domènech.i.Montaner.Palau.Musica.Catalana.8.Barcelona.JPG| [[Palau de la Música Catalana]]

Image:Arc de Triomf Barcelona.JPG| The [[Arc de Triomf]]

Image:Casavicens.jpg| [[Casa Vicens]]

Image:Barcellona palazzo.jpg|[[Castell dels tres Dracs]]

Image:PlayaBacelonetta2.JPG|[[Hotel Arts]] (l.) and [[Torre Mapfre]] (each 154 m in height) seen from [[Platja de la Barceloneta]]

Image:Torre Agbar - Barcelona, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|[[Torre Agbar]]

Image:PortVell.JPG|Rambla de Mar in Port Vell (Old Harbour)

Image:Barcelona.Tibidabo.Torre.Collserola.jpg| The [[Torre de Collserola]] in the [[Tibidabo|Tibidabo Hill]] is the highest structure in Barcelona (288m).

</gallery></center>

==See also==

*[[Barcelona metropolitan area]]

*[[Urban Region of Barcelona]]

*[[List of tallest buildings and structures in Barcelona]]

*[[Skateboarding in Barcelona]]

*[[Guardia Urbana]]

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==

*{{SmithDGRG}}

*{{cite encyclopedia | year = | title = Barcelona | encyclopedia = Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana | publisher = Ed. Enciclopèdia Catalana S.A. | ___location = Barcelona | id = }}

==External links==

{{Sisterlinks|Barcelona}}

* [http://www.bcn.cat/english/ihome.htm Official Website of Barcelona]

* [http://www.map-barcelona.com Detailed Map of Barcelona]

* [http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp Official Website Of Barcelona's Metropolitan Transports]

{{Geolinks-cityscale|41.3856|2.1702}}

* [http://wiki.worldflicks.org/barcelona.html Wiki.WorldFlicks @ Barcelona: Wiki with Geolocated photos on Map/Sat]

*{{wikitravel}}

* [http://public-transport.net/bim/Bcn.htm tramway in Barcelona]

{{Barcelona}}

{{Olympic Summer Games Host Cities}}

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[[Category:Coastal cities]]

[[Category:Host cities of the Summer Olympic Games]]

[[Category:Municipalities in Barcelona]]

[[Category:Phoenician colonies]]

[[Category:Roman sites in Spain]]

[[Category:Port cities and towns in Spain]]

[[Category:Mediterranean]]

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