Spain to open climate shelter network ahead of next summer

Spain is to arrange a nationwide community of local weather shelters in public buildings to supply folks refuge from intense warmth earlier than subsequent summer season, its prime minister has introduced.

The transfer was introduced as Pedro Sanchez laid out a plan to deal with the impression of local weather change throughout a convention in Madrid on Wednesday.

“Devastating droughts and heatwaves are now not uncommon. Some summers, it is not separate waves we face, however one lengthy heatwave stretching from June via August. That is now the brand new regular,” he stated.

Spain skilled its hottest summer season and three heatwaves in 2025. A 16-day heatwave in August noticed temperatures exceed 45C (113F), in accordance with the State Meteorological Company (AEMET).

As a part of the nationwide community of shelters, areas to remain cool can be out there to everybody, Sanchez stated.

Shelters can be funded by the federal government in areas “that want them most, the place the warmth actually hits folks the toughest,” he added.

The rollout can be along with current networks already arrange by regional governments together with in Catalonia, the Basque Nation and Murcia.

In Barcelona – the capital of the Catalonia area – about 400 local weather shelters exist already in buildings together with libraries, museums, sports activities amenities and buying malls.

The air conditioned areas, normally with seating and free water, are supposed to present folks with a refuge from the warmth, significantly these with well being issues, older folks, infants, and people with restricted sources.

Sanchez additionally introduced that the federal government would fund flood prevention plans in small cities, with €20m (£18m; $24m) additionally designated for fireplace prevention plans in small cities, as a part of a state pact to deal with local weather change.

The set of proposals are but to be introduced earlier than the Congress of Deputies, decrease home of Spain’s Parliament. Sanchez has requested different political teams to contribute to the pact, saying it’s “not an electoral weapon… it’s a protect for Spain”.

Heatwaves have gotten extra frequent and intense attributable to human-caused local weather change, in accordance with the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Local weather Change.

Greater than 3,800 heat-related deaths had been recorded in Spain amid searing temperatures this summer season – 88% greater than in 2024 – in accordance with estimates by the Ministry of Health.

Throughout 2025, Spain additionally skilled a devastating wildfire season, with over 400,000 hectares burned.