Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

Given the forecast of a drop in temperatures, the city’s network of climate shelters offers 134 spaces which will be available for local people to use in the face of the cold snap.

The network is made up of various municipal facilities and public places such as libraries, sports complexes, museums and environmental spaces which provide warmth for users.

While they have other uses, these spaces can also be used as shelters against dropping temperatures, particularly for vulnerable people.

The network begins with 134 spaces this winter, 64 of which are local facilities, 39 libraries, 20 sports complexes, 8 museums and 2 environmental facilities. On top of these, the CUESB is also available.

A shelter within five minutes

Making shelters ready during the cold snap is an initiative which complements their implementation as climate shelters during the last three years in the summer months.

Work is in progress to boost the number of facilities in the network and provide more cover so that in the near future everybody in the city has a space of these characteristics within five minutes of where they are.

Improvements are also planned in the comfort and quality of services offered at climate shelters, as well as communication and dissemination to promote the network among the general public.

The goal is for local people to have access to a network of spaces where they can find protection against extreme temperatures all year round, against heat or the cold.

The locations and opening hours of these shelters can be found at: https://www.barcelona.cat/barcelona-pel-clima/ca/barcelona-respon/accions-concretes/xarxa-de-refugis-climatics

What are climate shelters?

• Shelters can be indoors or outdoors. Indoor shelters operate all year and can protect people against the heat or the cold. Outdoor ones only operate from 15 June to 15 September.
• They provide thermal comfort for people while maintaining other uses and functions.
• Indoor spaces maintain a recommended 27 ºC in the summer and 19 ºC in the winter.
• They are particularly aimed at people who are vulnerable to the heat and the cold (babies, the over-75s, people with chronic illnesses or with few resources).
• They must be safe places with good accessibility, comfortable rest areas and free water.
• They are identified by a sticker at the entrance.