Mayor Jaume Collboni’s government will launch a communication campaign in the summer so that citizens know that Barcelona has 227 climate shelters spread across the ten districts to protect themselves from the high temperatures. This year the City Council is inviting people to enjoy the fresh air in 30 more facilities than last summer. Many residents of the city, more and more, need them, so the Council will put ads on the radio, use the advertising media of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and also distribute leaflets in the municipal markets.
The problem is that for now only 20% of the Barcelona population is unaware that you can approach a lot of libraries, civic centers, educational centers and corners of parks with generous shadows to simply wait confidently for the night to cool down . The habit of killing time in shopping malls is more ingrained among people. The municipal initiative is aimed above all at people who these days can have a particularly bad time, such as the elderly, children, people with chronic illnesses and also families who cannot afford to buy an air conditioner.
The first deputy mayor, the socialist Laia Bonet, detailed that “to this network, there are also twenty pergolas that generate energy, which also offer areas of shade”.
“Up to 97% of the population has a space within ten minutes’ walk from their home where they can protect themselves from the heat, some with very leafy vegetation and water sources, and 58% of the population less than five minutes away. What we want now is for them to be known by all the neighbors who may need them”. In addition, the Barcelona Center for Social Emergencies and Emergencies (CUESB) will act as a point of reference for social care in the event that rising temperatures force the heatwave alert to be raised.
A few years ago, not so many years ago, anyone could spend the Barcelona summer sprawled out in their underwear in front of any fan. Just because it was cool the night before yesterday doesn’t mean that summer’s tropical nights are over.
The temperatures of the last week have really illustrated how climate change is also already affecting the most everyday aspects of people’s lives. For example, a few weeks ago they had to close the children’s play area of ??the newly inaugurated Can Batlló park for a few days to install a few awnings. Otherwise, the metal structure of the slides and other swings would burn the rascal.
Municipal sources also explained that the facilities that act as climate shelters are free to access, and that, in some cases, they have spaces specially reserved and separated from the rest of the facilities, where people also have fans with information and recommendations that can be followed against high temperatures.
Shelters will also provide users with reusable cups so they can drink water and some even magazines and other publications to pass the time as well.
