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Abstract

Climate Change: Sustainable Management Model Emergency Shelters for Regions Affected by Heavy Floods †

by
Juan Antonio Torrents Arevalo
1,2,* and
Ricardo Xavier Avila Chong
3
1
Department of Management, Polytechnic University of Catalonia-BarcelonaTech, Building P, Room 209 2nd Plant, Doctor Marañon, 44-50, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2
Department Economic Analysis, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 08031 Barcelona, Spain
3
Technical Department, Soprema Iberia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Presented at the 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF11), Barcelona, Spain, 2–3 October 2025.
Proceedings 2025, 131(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025131005
Published: 18 November 2025
Climate change is having profound effects on populations worldwide, manifesting through environmental degradation, reduced economic productivity, and loss of human life. The primary driver of these impacts is the combustion of carbon-intensive fossil fuels—a process that has accelerated since the onset of industrialization. The continued and increasing use of these fuels, driven by global population growth and rising wealth, has led to significant atmospheric and environmental disruptions.
This research aims to address the multifaceted consequences of climate change by developing innovative models to mitigate its societal impact, particularly in the context of extreme climatic events. Specifically, it proposes a sustainable management framework for housing response initiatives in emergency settings. The model incorporates sustainability principles across all phases—not only in material selection and construction methods but also in governance structures, institutional coordination, and participatory implementation strategies. It leverages both existing and emerging technologies to enhance resilience and sustainability outcomes.
The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop a management and profitability analysis model to produce sustainable emergency shelters. The methodology includes a case study, financial analysis, and environmental and social impact assessments, with the goal of producing a replicable and viable proposal for emergency contexts.
Importantly, the proposal aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. It offers a comprehensive operational framework that balances technical efficiency, social equity, and environmental stewardship. This alignment ensures the model meets international standards while serving as a strategic planning tool that supports multidimensional decision-making.
Beyond qualitative evaluation, the study presents an economic rationale for the proposed model, demonstrating its financial viability even in collaborative, resource-constrained environments. The findings suggest that the model is not only technically and socially feasible but also economically sustainable when resource efficiency and long-term benefits are rigorously assessed.

Author Contributions

Preparation and working done by R.X.A.C., and review done by J.A.T.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Conflicts of Interest

Author Ricardo Xavier Avila Chong is employed by the company Soprema Iberia. The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Torrents Arevalo, J.A.; Chong, R.X.A. Climate Change: Sustainable Management Model Emergency Shelters for Regions Affected by Heavy Floods. Proceedings 2025, 131, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025131005

AMA Style

Torrents Arevalo JA, Chong RXA. Climate Change: Sustainable Management Model Emergency Shelters for Regions Affected by Heavy Floods. Proceedings. 2025; 131(1):5. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025131005

Chicago/Turabian Style

Torrents Arevalo, Juan Antonio, and Ricardo Xavier Avila Chong. 2025. "Climate Change: Sustainable Management Model Emergency Shelters for Regions Affected by Heavy Floods" Proceedings 131, no. 1: 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025131005

APA Style

Torrents Arevalo, J. A., & Chong, R. X. A. (2025). Climate Change: Sustainable Management Model Emergency Shelters for Regions Affected by Heavy Floods. Proceedings, 131(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025131005

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