Spain will open a nationwide network of climate shelters in public buildings ahead of next summer as record heat grips the country, responding to thousands of heat-related deaths and a growing recognition that extreme, prolonged heatwaves are now a permanent climate reality.
Spain will roll out a nationwide network of climate shelters to protect residents from extreme heat, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Wednesday, as the country endures record-breaking temperatures linked to climate change.
Speaking at a climate conference in Madrid, Sánchez said prolonged and intense heatwaves were now the “new reality,” stretching from June through August. “Summers no longer mean occasional heat spells. We face continuous extreme heat,” he said.
The shelters will be established in air-conditioned government buildings and opened to the public before next summer, with the central government coordinating efforts with existing regional networks, including those in Catalonia and the Basque Country. Funding will prioritise areas most affected by soaring temperatures, officials said.
Barcelona has already taken the lead, designating libraries, schools and other public buildings as climate shelters during heatwaves.
Spain’s national meteorological agency AEMET said this summer was the hottest on record, with an average temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous high of 24.1C in 2022. Authorities warn the country could log its third or fourth hottest year in history.
Extreme heat is already taking a deadly toll. Between May 16 and September 30, 3,832 people died from heat-related causes, up 87.6 percent from the same period in 2024, according to the health ministry.
Experts say rising temperatures increase the risk of heatstroke, dehydration, heart disease, strokes and respiratory illness, particularly among older people and outdoor workers.
With climate change driving longer and more intense heatwaves across southern Europe, the government says the shelter programme aims to provide a critical lifeline for vulnerable communities.
