France's Greens push for 'climate leave' inspired by Spanish model

Amidst a heatwave, France's Green party has launched a petition advocating for the implementation of "climate leave," a measure inspired by a similar system already in place in Spain. The proposed French policy would allow workers up to five days off per year without loss of income due to extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, or fires.

Marine Tondelier, the national secretary of the Green party, explained the potential uses of this leave. It could be invoked if "climatic conditions prevent you from going to work" or in situations where "your children's school closes and you have no solution for them," she stated.

The Greens' proposal closely mirrors Spain's "permisos climáticos," or "climate leave," enacted in November 2024. Spanish Minister of Labor Yolanda Diaz described the Spanish initiative as an adaptation of labor law to the "climate emergency," allowing for leave "truly linked to meteorological conditions."

However, the context surrounding the introduction of such measures differs significantly between the two countries. In Spain, the legislation followed deadly floods in October 2024 that claimed nearly 230 lives, many trapped in vehicles en route to work. This tragedy highlighted instances where employers still demanded employees come to work despite severe weather warnings. The Spanish law aims to prevent such scenarios by ensuring workers are not compelled to travel or work under dangerous climatic conditions.

The French Greens' petition seeks to introduce a similar protective mechanism, allowing employees to stay home when authorities deem it unsafe to travel or work due to extreme weather. This could involve measures like temporary unemployment benefits for affected workers.