GUIDE | Recommendations for Creating a Local Network of Climate Shelters to Cope with High Temperatures – Red de Ciudades por el Clima

SUMMARY

According to the European Environment Agency, heat waves represent the primary direct climate-related health threat to the European population. In Spain, the national meteorological agency has been documenting for several years a gradual increase in average temperatures, more intense extreme weather events, and a rise in the number of tropical nights. In 2024, 12,596 deaths in Spain were attributed to heat. In response to this situation,this guide (in Spanish) provides Spanish municipalities with a structured framework for designing, implementing, managing, and communicating about local climate refuge networks. It covers the entire lifecycle of such a system—from identifying spaces to communicating with citizens, including governance and activation protocols—thereby helping to strengthen local resilience to climate change. 

Keywords: accessibility, adaptation, well-being, extreme heat, climate change, thermal comfort, public space, risk management, local governance, heat islands, territorial inequalities, vulnerable populations, climate refuge, resilience, health, urban planning, cities, Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Málaga, Malgrat de Mar, Manacor, Murcia, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

Illustration: © Red de Ciudades por el Clima