Spain's leftist government has approved up to four days of “paid climate leave” to allow workers to avoid travel during the weather emergency, a month after floods killed at least 224 people. .
After the October 29 disaster, several companies came under fire for ordering employees to continue working despite emergency warnings issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The companies argued that authorities failed to provide enough information and sent out telephone alerts too late during the worst flooding in European countries in decades.
Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz told public broadcaster RTVE that the new measures were aimed at “regulating in response to the climate emergency” and that “no worker should be put at risk.”
If emergency authorities issue a warning about the risk, “workers must refrain from coming to work,” Diaz said. The government says employees can shorten their working days beyond a four-day period and the scheme already exists for emergency situations.
This legislation was inspired by a similar legislation in Canada (RTVE). reported. “In the face of right-wing climate change denialism, the Spanish government is focusing on environmental policy,” Díaz said, according to media reports. report At El Pais.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has warned that damage from extreme weather events could double by 2050, after the government confirmed €2.3 billion in new aid for flood victims.
In most parts of the world, extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent and more intense due to anthropogenic climate change. especially in Europemost of Asia, central and eastern North America, parts of South America, Africa, and Australia. This is because warmer air can hold more water vapor. As a result, flooding is likely to be more frequent and severe in these locations, but it is also affected by human factors such as the presence of flood defenses and land use.
All but eight of the deaths from the floods occurred in Valencia, with conservative regional president Carlos Massón admitting mistakes had been made, but saying the unprecedented and “apocalyptic” scale of the disaster was simply He rejected calls for his resignation, claiming he had overwhelmed the system.
Two weeks after the floods, torrential rains once again hit parts of Spain, forcing 3,000 people to evacuate their homes in Malaga.
with Agence France-Presse
