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A plan proposes aid to combat extreme heat in Barcelona
Extreme heat has become one of Barcelona’s major challenges. Summers are getting longer and tropical nights make rest difficult for thousands of people, especially in homes with little insulation or no cooling systems. This new reality has opened the debate on how to adapt the city to an increasingly demanding climate.
In this context, Esquerra Republicana has presented the ‘Refresca’t Barcelona’ proposal, a plan intended to promote measures to reduce the impact of high temperatures both in homes and in public space. The initiative comes at a time when heatwaves are increasingly frequent and prolonged.
Among the main proposed measures is the creation of assistance so families can improve the thermal comfort of their homes. The proposal includes grants for installing low-consumption fans, thermal curtains, repairing shutters and other systems that help maintain a more pleasant temperature inside homes.
The plan also supports adapting the city in the long term through actions that increase shade, improve the energy efficiency of buildings and promote rehabilitation of the housing stock. According to the party, these investments would also help generate jobs in sectors related to sustainable construction and energy efficiency.
Another pillar of the proposal is the use of technology to make mobility easier during episodes of intense heat. Ideas include developing tools that make it possible to consult temperature maps and find cooler routes through the city, helping reduce exposure to heat on daily journeys.
The initiative considers that current measures, such as climate refuges or temporary actions during summer, are useful but insufficient to address a phenomenon that is already part of Barcelona’s climate reality. The aim is to move towards a permanent strategy combining prevention, adaptation and support for the most vulnerable groups.
The proposals will have to be debated at municipal level, where the other political groups will have to assess their viability and funding. The debate coincides with a summer marked by high temperatures and growing concern about the impact of heat on health and quality of life.
Barcelona has spent years promoting climate-change adaptation projects, from expanding green areas to creating climate refuges. The increase in heatwaves has placed this issue among urban priorities, with the aim of preparing the city for a scenario in which episodes of extreme heat will become ever more common.