Heatwaves are no longer an exceptional phenomenon. In Spain they are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged, directly affecting health, homes, businesses and the economy. According to El País (7/08/2025), the number of days under extreme conditions has risen from 129 (1975-1999) to almost 300 over the last two decades.
And this August has broken records: 165 weather stations exceeded 40 °C and 62 of them reached 42 °C (El País, 14/08/2025).
Impact on health and daily life
The Spanish Ministry of Health warns that heatwaves can cause heatstroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular and respiratory problems, especially in older people, children, pregnant women and patients with chronic conditions (sanidad.gob.es).
Between May and July 2025 there were 1,180 heat-related deaths, and between June and August alone the figure rose to 1,472, double that of the previous year (El País, 10/08/2025).
Effects on businesses and economic activity
Extreme heat reduces productivity, affects machinery and increases the risk of fire. Spain's Real Decreto-ley 4/2023 (Royal Decree-Law 4/2023) requires employers to adjust working hours and protect workers on days of extreme heat (boe.es).
In the industrial sector, high temperatures can cause unplanned shutdowns and electrical equipment failures, with significant costs for businesses.
Adaptation: from urgency to planning
The WHO and AEMET agree: adaptation to extreme heat must be immediate. Reacting is not enough; we must anticipate. Cities such as Barcelona have launched plans such as the Pla Calor, with climate shelters, alerts for vulnerable people and distribution of water and caps (El País, 14/08/2025).
Prevention is protection…
At Coyfer, we believe our role is not limited solely to secure, but also to informing about current risks, because prevention is protection.
- We publish key national and international data on the increasing frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves.
- We share figures that help to grasp the scale of the problem and support informed decision-making.
- We provide scientific context on how these climate trends affect people, homes and businesses.
Climate change is no longer a challenge for the future: it is here and demands immediate action. Prevention and adaptation are the best tools to protect what matters most.
At Coyfer, we are with you before, during and after any climate-related emergency, because protecting is more than insuring.
APPENDIX. Sources consulted:
- “Changes in heat waves characteristics over Extremadura (SW Spain)” (F. J. Acero et al., arXiv, February 2024)
- https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.00514
- “Heatwaves in Spain caused 1,180 deaths in past two months, ministry says” (Reuters, July 2025)
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/heatwaves-spain-caused-1180-deaths-past-two-months-ministry-says-2025-07-14/
- “Climate change is fueling early‑season heat scorching Spain” (Climate Central, June 2025)
- https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/spain-june-2025
