While many countries are still grappling with the challenge of adapting to climate change, Spain takes a step forward in protecting citizens and introduces paid “climate leave”.. Exactly one month after the devastating floods that hit Valencia, killing 224 people, the Spanish government has approved a law allowing workers to be absent from work for up to four days during weather emergencies.
This measure, strongly supported by the Minister of Labor Yolanda Diazarises from the need to protect workers and prevent them from traveling during extreme weather events, such as floods, overflows or storms, increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change.
“In the face of climate denialism, the Spanish government is committed to green policies,” declared Díaz, underlining the importance of this “lives-saving” measure.
But what exactly is meant by “climate leave”? This is a paid leave that workers can request when authorities issue a weather warning for extreme events that could put their safety at risk. This measure is part of a broader context of climate change adaptation policies, which aim to reduce the vulnerability of communities and socio-economic systems to the impacts of increasingly frequent and intense meteorological events.
The Spanish initiative is inspired by a similar law already in force in Canada. But Spain does more: not only does it grant workers the right to stay at home in the event of a weather warning, but it also forces companies to adopt specific protocols to address climate emergencies within 12 months. “Climate risks are not the same for a worker who works in a construction company or outdoors and for a worker who, for example, works in an infirmary or a library,” Díaz explained. “This is why we are giving Spanish companies the mandate to equip themselves with action protocols within 12 months”.
The Spanish government’s decision arrives after the controversies following the floods in Valenciawhen several companies were criticized for ordering employees to report to work despite the red alert issued by the national weather agency. Many of the victims, in fact, lost their lives while on their way to work.
The “climate leave” is a concrete example of how politics can and must intervene to protect citizens and adapt to climate change. While governments are often reluctant to pass laws that could “slow down” the economy, the reality is that the damage caused by extreme events is becoming unsustainable, both in economic and social terms.
The Spanish government has estimated that the Valencia disaster will cost the state coffers at least 2.3 billion euros. Even in other countries, the situation is dramatic: the economic and social costs of extreme weather events are constantly increasing. These events can cause damage to infrastructure, disruptions to production activities, job losses and public health problems.
Preparing to face climate emergencies is therefore fundamental, not only for governments, but also for companies. Adopting preventative measures, such as evacuation plans, early warning systems and safety protocols, can help reduce risks and minimize losses.
Faced with this reality, denying the climate crisis is an act of irresponsibility. The example of Spain shows that it is possible to take concrete measures to protect citizens and adapt to climate change, without compromising the economy. On the contrary, intervening promptly can avoid much higher economic and social costs in the long term.
