Heatwaves have become more frequent and intense, causing a search for solutions to cool cities. With energy poverty leaving people more unprotected inside their homes, climate shelters can be an option to make cities resistant to extreme temperatures.

Barcelona

European cities are increasingly turning to climate shelters as a response to intense heatwaves. Facilities such as public parks, libraries, museums, and schools are being designated as refuges for those most at risk from extreme temperatures. In Barcelona, clear criteria have been established to define what qualifies as a climate shelter, ensuring that these spaces offer seating, drinking water, and bathroom access. Meanwhile, in Lisbon, despite widespread thermal discomfort in homes, the city has yet to implement a formal cooling network, though local initiatives like interactive maps help residents find cooling spots. The rise in temperatures has also been linked to increased mortality, as seen in Portugal's recent excess deaths during a heat alert.

Climate shelters: When the heat is on, where can you escape to?

Where can you go to escape the heat? Climate refuges are becoming more of a solution. With a wave of intense heat gripping European cities, climate refuges are places that can offer the population some coolness and relief. Public parks and gardens, libraries, museums and schools are among places that are open during the day to receive people who are vulnerable to extreme temperatures. This happens normally in cities, because we have densely built cities, we have a lot of alcatraum, which makes the sun absorb, and at the end of the day we see that at 6, 7pm it is still possible to be very hot, although it is not very sunny, because the ground has absorbed. Then we have several buildings and often narrow streets, which makes it difficult for the air to circulate. The city of Barcelona served as a model for the rest of Europe, not because it was a pioneer, but what really makes the Catalan city a great example is the clear criteria for defining what a refuge is, according to this researcher. It is not just any space that is automatically a climate refuge. I think it is very important that these spaces, in order to meet the needs of these populations who are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures, they really need to have these minimum criteria. As I said, they need to have a minimum space where people can sit, drink water and use the bathroom. In Lisbon, where thermal discomfort in homes is a reality, the city council has not yet promoted the use of a cooling network. But data scientist Manuel Banzer has created an interactive map where you can consult spaces like fountains, lakes and municipal swimming pools. There is a great thermal amplitude in houses and Lisbon is one of the worst cities in Europe in terms of energy efficiency. This means that both in summer and winter people have difficulty heating or cooling their homes. So there is a municipal and public responsibility to transform the public space into a space that is an extension of our homes. In addition to discomfort, heat is also associated with an increase in mortality. Portugal recorded 284 deaths in excess between June 28 and July 3 during the hot weather alert. Joana Marão Carvalho for Euronews in Lisbon.

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Breakdown