Recently, the Third Sector Platform (PTS) formalized its adherence to this pact, emphasizing that the climate crisis is not only environmental but also social. Meanwhile, leaders such as Hugo Morán and Cristina Narbona have stressed the urgent need for action and the protection of the most vulnerable.
A national pact to address the climate emergency
The Spanish government declared a climate emergency by Council of Ministers agreement a few years ago. Since then, mitigation and adaptation measures have been implemented, but now an institutional pact is being sought that brings together all levels of government. Society demands action on climate change , and political leaders are calling for everyone to work together.
The Third Sector Platform, which brings together some 28.000 social organizations, has joined this pact. The climate emergency hits those with the fewest resources particularly hard , so the organization advocates for incorporating the dimensions of social ecology and climate justice into climate policies. Furthermore, it has presented proposals to strengthen social protection and promote a just ecological transition.
Climate shelters: a network to protect the population
Within the framework of the State Pact, the Climate Shelter Network has been established, providing safe and accessible spaces to reduce vulnerability to extreme temperatures. More than 1.100 spaces have already been identified throughout the country , and government agencies, businesses, and associations can join. In Ávila, for example, the Government Sub-delegation, the Social Security Treasury, and the CCOO and UGT union offices are already part of this network.
These shelters offer thermal comfort during periods of extreme heat, which is becoming chronic in cities , and are especially important for the elderly or those with health problems. The initiative aligns with the health protection component of the State Pact and aims to expand coverage throughout the country.
Voices from the UIMP: solidarity and urgency
At the seminar 'Quo Vadis Europa?' at the Menéndez Pelayo International University, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, and the President of the Commission for Ecological Transition, Cristina Narbona, expressed their solidarity with Nepal, where floods have caused 270 deaths and four Spaniards are missing. Narbona stated that 'this is what the climate emergency is, and we must take it seriously ,' while Morán pointed out that climate change is a global phenomenon that knows no borders.
Both agreed on the need for a broad agreement between administrations to share responsibility in the fight against climate change. Morán asserted that climate policy is the cornerstone of security policy and warned that it cannot be subject to partisan interests. Narbona, for her part, cautioned that climate change exacerbates social inequality and could pose a threat to democracy.
Europe and Spain: growing impacts
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and Spain is suffering particularly acutely from the effects of floods and wildfires . Rising temperatures are impacting health, the economy, and infrastructure , and experts are urging a shift from a reactive to a preventative approach. The European Environment Agency points out that while many countries have adaptation plans, a gap exists between what is planned and what is actually implemented.
In this context, the ecological transition presents itself as an opportunity for the country. A recent book, 'Will Spain Become a Desert?', proposes that ecological prosperity can be a major national project , provided it is well managed. The key lies in anticipating and implementing urban adaptation measures and fostering scientific debate to incorporate climate risk into urban planning, water management, and public health policies.
The climate emergency is no longer a future threat, but a reality that demands coordinated responses. The national pact, climate shelters, and the voices of policymakers all point in the same direction : to act urgently and protect the most vulnerable. Civil society, governments, and experts agree that only through a joint effort can the effects of climate change be prevented from becoming even more severe.