Barcelona's Climate Shelters Network transforms existing public infrastructure into refuges from extreme temperatures, providing nearly 400 spaces where residents can escape heat waves and cold snaps. Started with 70 shelters in 2020, the network now ensures 98% of citizens have access to a shelter within 10 minutes' walk, prioritizing vulnerable populations and demonstrating how cities can adapt existing resources to climate challenges.
Map
Barcelona Climate Shelters Network
General Information
ISIG
The Climate Shelters Network offers free, accessible spaces maintained at comfortable temperatures (26°C in summer, 21°C in winter) throughout Barcelona. These include libraries, civic centers, museums, schools, parks, and sports facilities that maintain their regular functions while serving as climate refuges. The network also includes "micro-shelters" - smaller establishments like pharmacies and shops offering temporary relief. All shelters are marked with distinctive signage, listed on an interactive map, and must meet criteria for accessibility, temperature control, and provision of drinking water.
Barcelona faces intensifying urban heat island effects, with city temperatures up to 5.6°C higher than surrounding areas. Following a record-breaking 2019 heatwave and recognizing that heat causes 6.2% of premature deaths in Spain, the city launched this network as part of its 2018 Climate Plan and 2020 Climate Emergency Declaration. The initiative emerged from the Cool Cities working group meetings where cities share urban heat solutions, adapting international cooling center concepts to Barcelona's specific context of high-density neighborhoods, aging population, and limited air conditioning penetration.
Needs Addressed
The network addresses multiple interconnected challenges: increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change, urban heat island effects exacerbated by dense construction and energy use, vulnerability of elderly populations and with chronic illnesses, energy poverty (and specifically limited access to air conditioning in homes), and inadequate public spaces offering thermal comfort. The initiative recognizes that heat-related mortality is preventable but requires accessible infrastructure and clear communication to protect vulnerable populations during extreme temperature events.
Barcelona City Council's Office for Climate Change and Sustainability leads the initiative through decentralized implementation across 10 districts. Each district manages its shelters while following citywide standards. The model involves multiple municipal departments (social services, education, sports, culture), requiring horizontal coordination. The Barcelona Social Emergency and Urgent Care Centre (CUESB) coordinates vulnerable population support. The Annual Climate Emergency Action Plan ensures continuous monitoring of the shelters' conditions and of the overall programme development.
Barcelona maintains comprehensive heat wave protocols activated from June 15 to September 15, integrated with Catalonia's regional civil protection plans. The system includes early warning mechanisms, coordinated social services response, and clear public communication strategies. The Fonts BCN mobile app complements shelters by locating 1,714 drinking fountains. Annual evaluations refine protocols based on usage data and citizen feedback, demonstrating continuous improvement in emergency preparedness infrastructure.
The network leverages Barcelona's extensive public infrastructure, transforming existing facilities rather than building new ones. Indoor shelters maintain air conditioning systems set to specific temperatures, while outdoor shelters feature mature tree coverage, water features, and shaded areas. The city has installed cool-mist humidifiers in school yards and pergolas in public spaces. Digital infrastructure includes real-time mapping systems, mobile applications, and integrated communication channels ensuring residents can quickly locate nearest shelters.
Engagement is not technically active, for what concerns citizens; it rather aims to democratize access to thermal comfort during extreme weather events, specifically heatwaves, transforming climate adaptation into accessible public service. The initiative seeks to reduce social stigma around seeking shelter, encouraging citizens to view these spaces as community resources rather than emergency services.
Multi-channel communication includes district-specific leaflets and posters, interactive online mapping, mobile applications, social media campaigns, and traditional signage. Community organizations serve as information multipliers, while micro-shelter partnerships engage private sector. Annual public consultations gather user feedback, and participatory design processes in specific neighborhoods (like La Prosperitat) involve residents in creating climate refuges. School programs integrate shelter education, building long-term awareness among younger populations.
Citizens primarily receive information about shelter locations and proper usage, with limited direct decision-making power in network design. However, feedback mechanisms allow users to report experiences and suggest improvements, influencing annual expansion of shelters around the city. Private establishments can propose becoming micro-shelters through online forms. Some neighborhoods like La Prosperitat pilot participatory approaches where residents co-design shelter spaces, suggesting potential evolution toward greater community involvement in future phases.
individual vulnerability is transformed into collective social resilience: the normalization of the use of public spaces as a refuge from heatwaves allows for social cohesion to be strengthened while protecting vulnerable populations. Integration with schools develops understanding of climate adaptation. The initiative demonstrates how existing resources can address new challenges, empowering communities to reimagine public spaces as multifunctional resilience assets beyond traditional uses.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Population Size
Population Density
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
While the nature of the involved public spaces is diverse and adapted to local conditions, clear standards characterize shelters (temperature, accessibility, water provision) which have been formalized by the municipality. The micro-shelter concept engages private sector without public investment, expanding coverage through voluntary participation. The "5-minute city" goal drives equitable spatial distribution. Integration with regular facility use removes stigma and reduces costs. The network addresses both hot and cold extremes, recognizing year-round climate risks. Visual branding and unified communication create recognizable safe spaces across diverse neighborhoods, while digital tools bridge traditional infrastructure with modern accessibility needs.
Catalan, Spanish and English, with some material being adapted to the language of migrant communities.
Barcelona City Council - Office for Climate Change and Sustainability.
Barcelona City Council has extensive experience in urban resilience, participating in international networks like C40 Cities, 100 Resilient Cities, and ICLEI. The city developed comprehensive climate plans since 2002, pioneered urban greening strategies, and manages complex multi-hazard risks including coastal flooding and drought. The Office coordinates with regional Catalan civil protection authorities and maintains dedicated emergency management protocols, demonstrating sophisticated capacity to integrate climate adaptation with existing urban services.
Barcelona City Council departments (Climate Change, Social Services, Education, Sports, Culture); District administrations (10 districts); Facility managers (libraries, civic centers, sports complexes, museums); Barcelona Social Emergency Centre (CUESB); Private establishments (pharmacies, shops); Community organizations and NGOs; Research institutions (Barcelona Laboratory for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability); Schools and educational centers; Healthcare facilities; Media partners for communication campaigns.
Initial mapping identified existing public facilities with cooling/heating capacity and assessed walking distances from vulnerable populations. Establishment of standardization criteria (temperature, accessibility, water) preceded facility certification. Pilot implementation with 70 shelters in 2020 tested protocols and communication strategies. Annual expansion phases prioritized underserved neighborhoods, growing to 163 (2021), 200+ (2022), 353 (2024), nearly 400 (2025). Parallel development of digital infrastructure (maps, apps) and communication materials. Continuous monitoring enables iterative improvements based on usage patterns and citizen feedback.
Human resources include coordination staff, facility managers trained in shelter protocols, communication specialists, and IT support for digital platforms. Financial requirements primarily involve communication campaigns, signage production, and minor facility adaptations rather than major infrastructure investment. Technical needs encompass GIS mapping systems, mobile app development, and temperature monitoring. The model's efficiency stems from utilizing existing infrastructure, requiring mainly organizational coordination and public communication resources rather than substantial capital investment.
Immediate response phase: May 3-22, 2023 (peak emergency); Sustained intervention phase: May 23 - June 22, 2023 (continued field presence); Follow-up phase: June 2023 - November 2023 (6-month monitoring and support); Evaluation and strengthening phase: Ongoing system improvements based on lessons learned
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Success depends on leveraging existing infrastructure rather than building new facilities, dramatically reducing costs and implementation time. Clear standardization criteria ensure quality while allowing local flexibility. Removing stigma through normalized communication proves essential for vulnerable population uptake. Multi-channel engagement reaches diverse communities, while visual communication transcends language barriers. Political continuity across government changes requires early institutionalization and demonstrated effectiveness. The model's replicability stems from adapting universal concepts (cooling centers) to local contexts, suggesting transferability to other dense urban areas facing extreme heat.
Initial stigma around seeking shelter was addressed through normalizing communication emphasizing shelters as community spaces, not emergency services. Language barriers for migrant populations led to simplified visual communication and multi-language materials. Uneven district coverage prompted targeted expansion in underserved areas. Private sector reluctance was overcome through micro-shelter concept requiring minimal commitment. Outdoor shelter limitations during extreme heat waves resulted in emphasis on indoor facilities and enhanced cooling features. Continued political support across government changes demonstrates successful institutionalization of the initiative.
The network addresses risks through redundancy (multiple shelters per neighborhood), diversity (indoor/outdoor options), and flexibility (facilities maintain regular functions). Communication risks are mitigated through multi-channel approaches ensuring vulnerable populations receive information. Facility overload risks managed through distributed network preventing concentration. Budget constraints addressed through existing infrastructure use. Climate uncertainty handled by monitoring temperature trends and adjusting activation periods. Social equity risks reduced through data-driven placement prioritizing vulnerable areas.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Financial sustainability is ensured by the fact that Barcelona does not build new infrastructure, but rather enhances the existing public spaces, lightly equipping them with the necessary nature-based solutions and urban furniture to turn them into climate shelters. from a governance standpoint, the shelters are placed under the Climate Emergency Action Plan, thus maximising governance functions rather than expanding them.
The model's core principle - transforming existing infrastructure into climate refuges - applies universally to cities with public facilities. Adaptation requires mapping local resources, understanding specific climate risks (heat, cold, or both), and identifying vulnerable populations. Rural areas might emphasize community centers and churches over diverse urban facilities. Less developed contexts could start with basic shade structures and water points. The micro-shelter concept particularly suits resource-limited settings, engaging private sector without public investment. Success factors include strong municipal coordination, clear standards, and culturally appropriate communication strategies.
Digital innovation includes interactive GIS mapping allowing real-time shelter location, mobile applications with push notifications during heat waves, and integration with the Fonts BCN water fountain app. Physical innovations feature cool-mist humidifiers in schoolyards, climate-responsive pergola designs, and standardized temperature monitoring systems. The combination of high-tech (apps, mapping) and low-tech (signage, leaflets) solutions ensures accessibility across digital divides. Future developments may include IoT sensors for real-time occupancy monitoring and AI-driven placement optimization based on usage patterns.
Initial setup costs included facility assessment and mapping (staff time), signage production and installation (approximately €50 per shelter), communication material design and printing, website and app development, and training for facility managers. These one-time costs remain modest due to using existing infrastructure. Annual coordination requires 2-3 full-time staff positions for citywide management plus district-level coordination hours.
Annual operational costs include communication campaign updates (design, printing, distribution), digital platform maintenance and updates, facility signage replacement and maintenance, coordination staff salaries, monitoring and evaluation activities, and minor facility adaptations as network expands. Most costs are absorbed within existing municipal budgets as facilities already operate year-round. Additional climate-specific costs remain minimal, estimated at less than €500,000 annually for the entire network.