In recent weeks, Catalonia has faced yet another wave of extreme heat, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. Despite this, many climate shelters set up to protect the population from overheating were inaccessible to residents.
In the municipality of Sant Vicenç dels Horts, a notice on the door of the local library stated that the premises served as a climate shelter. However, at the height of the heatwave, another sign appeared at the same entrance—announcing its closure. Similar situations occurred in other Catalan cities, where libraries, cultural centers, and other public spaces equipped with air conditioning and drinking water remained closed on the hottest days, especially on weekends and in August.
Local authorities explain that the shelters operate only during regular opening hours. On weekends and public holidays, when the heat peaks, most of these facilities are closed. Representatives of the municipalities note that police have not reported any serious heat-related incidents, but this practice has raised concerns within the regional health department.
The authorities in Catalonia emphasize that climate shelters play a key role in protecting public health during extreme temperatures. During the most recent heatwave, the regional government recommended that residents spend at least a few hours in cool public buildings. However, in practice, the decision to open shelters outside regular hours is left to municipalities, since most of these facilities are under their management. Opening shelters on weekends and public holidays requires additional resources, and not all cities are willing to bear these costs.
In Tarragona, according to local officials, only one out of 17 indoor shelters was open last Sunday. In other cities, such as Sant Boi and Cornellà, most shelters were also inaccessible, although in Cornellà the lobbies of sports complexes with air conditioning were available, but they too closed according to schedule.
In Barcelona, authorities stated that this year 400 climate points have been opened in the city—46 more than last year. However, opposition parties point out that many of them remain closed in August, when the heat is most dangerous. Last year, a third of the shelters were also closed during the hottest month.
Despite warnings from authorities and information campaigns on social media, by the end of July Catalonia had already recorded 250 heat-related deaths—more than in the entire previous year. New data on the impact of the most recent heatwave is expected in the coming weeks, and experts do not rule out a further increase in the number of victims.
The issue of access to climate shelters during periods of extreme temperatures has become a subject of public debate. Authorities acknowledge that for effective protection, such facilities must operate precisely when health risks are at their peak. However, questions of funding and the division of responsibility between regional and municipal governments remain unresolved.
