Here’s a positive report about a nation with climate deniers starting to take corrective action. The Nordic nations – Finland, Norway, Demark – made adjustments early, and have not suffered destructive climate events as much as other nations. Spain is like many other nations, with deniers saying there’s no problem and no need for change. Finally, their political leader admits to reality and is initiating corrective action. Comments afterwards.
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Climate change kills, Spanish PM tells
deniers at launch of plan to tackle crisis
Pedro Sánchez says country’s deadly August wildfires show
society needs to mobilise and take immediate action
Sam Jones in Madrid
The Guardian
1 Sep 2025
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has announced a 10-point plan to prepare the country for the climate emergency, warning:
“If we don’t want to bequeath our children
a Spain that’s grey from fire and flames, or
a Spain that’s brown from floods, then
we need a Spain that’s greener.”
Sánchez said August’s heatwave-fuelled wildfires – which killed four people, burned through an area six times the size of Ibiza and required “the biggest human and technical deployment” ever seen in Spain – showed that immediate action must be taken to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.
He said waiting any longer would be dangerous and expensive, and he criticised those who deny the realities of global heating in Spain. Over the past five years, he said, the climate emergency had caused more than 20,000 deaths and cost the public purse €32bn (£28bn) in material losses. He said:
“We need to mobilise as a society against
climate change, which is a common enemy
that lies beyond ideologies. Climate change
kills. It kills. And that’s why we have to be
aware of everything it represents in terms
of insecurity and in terms of the risks it
poses to our lives.
“The climate change denial that’s coming from
an important part [of society] – and which is
growing as a result of the lies spread on social
networks by some members of our political class
– is as incomprehensible as it is worrying”
He proposed a series of initiatives including a state civil protection agency to coordinate crisis responses, a network of climate refuges across the country and a rethink of forest management and land use. Only by acting now, he said, could the country hope to avert similar disasters or reduce their impacts. He said …
“The biggest opportunity we have right
now is to avoid this tragedy – and to do
that, we need to do as a US president
once advised when he said that the
moment to fix your roof is when the
sun’s shining and not when it’s raining.
“I think he was right because these
sixth-generation fires that have burned
through more than 300,000 hectares in
our country aren’t put out in summer;
they’re put out in winter and in autumn.
They’re put out by working all year.”
Other measures in the socialist-led government’s “state pact to address the climate emergency” include funds to prepare for, and rebuild after, climate-related disasters, improvements to firefighting capacity, a plan to increase water resilience in the face of floods and droughts, and initiatives to fight rural depopulation and thus help keep the land clear of combustible material.
Sánchez said farming would also play an important role in fighting the climate crisis, pointing to the benefits of extensive agriculture, careful grazing and efficient irrigation. The final two measures are promoting a “civic culture of prevention and reaction” and accelerating the green transition.
The plan will be approved in cabinet on Tuesday and put out for public consultation.
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Spain has similar climate-related disastrous events as other nations, including the U.S. However, U.S. leadership, led by Mr. Trump, who is funded by the oil producers, refuses to be fact-checked, and says, like Ned Beatty as Senator Meachum in the movie “Shooter” …
“The truth is what I say it is!”
When a climate denier is a national leader, if we wish to mitigate the climate events that are increasingly destructive, we need alternative paths. Engaging D for a broader and politically neutral perspective …
“Spain is an excellent example of a country that has large amounts of climate deniers, as well as multiple and increasing climate change destructive events.
“At this point, for Spain, it has become obvious to the Prime Minister that they cannot stand by and do nothing. The cost of human life and to their beautiful country is taking its toll. And they are choosing to take big steps to try to mitigate these destructive climate change events.
“Bravo, Spain!
“Now, what does that mean for the United States?
“The frequency and severity of destructive climate-related events is increasing. And you have an administration that is choosing to say: “Stay with fossil fuels. Do not use sustainable wind or sun.” Therefore, at this moment in time, little will be done at a national level.
“On an individual level, you can do much. You can add solar panels. You can plant trees. And you can drive an electric car.
“In addition, you can work at a state level to have some things happen. So, work with your state representative to try to influence positive changes that support dealing with climate change, such as tax write-offs for solar panels and electric cars. Also, prepare for climate-change events, such as resiliency plans for hurricanes, tornedos, or forest fires, or just getting people elected who know that climate change is an issue.”
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I read an article this morning that stated that purchases of solar panels and electric cars have enjoyed a surge. The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, has evidently (and gladly) had a positive impact. Without its benefits at the national level, I like D’s suggestion of doing what we can at least at the state level.
While my new book, “T, D, Gaia and Me,” has still not hit mainstream ads or bookstore outlets (other than Amazon,) the slowly growing numbers of reviews on Amazon’s site still all score the book a 5, and have also added a wider diversity of positive comments. I’m pleased it’s being so well received.
