Los grupos vulnerables frente al cambio climático. El deber de cuidado de los poderes públicos en el desarrollo de las políticas de adaptación

Abstract

This article explores the role of vulnerable groups in the context of climate change within the Spanish, European, and international legal frameworks. Based on the principle of climate vulnerability, it examines how public authorities must exercise a duty of care toward communities that are particularly exposed to environmental impacts. The article reviews the normative recognition of these groups in international treaties such as the Paris Agreement, the Escazú Agreement, and the United Nations ACE programme, which reinforce citizen participation and climate justice. At the national level, it analyses Spain’s Climate Change and Energy Transition Act (Law 7/2021), the National Adaptation Plan, the Just Transition Strategy, and the Social Climate Plan, highlighting both their progress and their shortcomings in identifying and effectively protecting vulnerable groups. The article calls for greater clarity in defining social criteria, moving beyond a purely economic understanding of vulnerability and incorporating specific indicators for groups such as young people and persons with dependency needs.