The city has already exceeded the 1.5 degree increase in temperatures compared to the pre-industrial period and heatwaves have come more frequently in recent times: from one roughly every four years to five between 2022 and 2024. Given the effects of high temperatures on people’s health and lives and on public space, the Heat Plan 2025-2035 includes various lines of action.

Reducing the heat island effect

Barcelona’s average temperature is three degrees higher than the temperature outside the city, with peaks of up to seven or eight degrees higher.

The Heat Plan envisages various actions to improve the resilience of public space:

• More greenery and the expansion of the groundwater network to guarantee watering: 160 hectares more in 2030 compared to 2015.
• Programme for shade: ot reach at least 9 hectares of seasonal and/or fixed shade.
• Installation of draining and reflective surfaces.
• Optimisation of decorative fountains and improvement of drinking fountains.
• Implementation of spaces to freshen up in all districts.
• Protection of the coast with measures to maintain a minimum width of 25 metres at the beaches.
• Inclusion of various strategies (greenery, shade, reuse of water, fountains, spaces to freshen up etc.) in urban planning projects.

Protecting children, elderly people and those with chronic conditions

Some 300 people in the city died through causes directly linked to the heat in 2023. Vulnerable groups are more at risk before the effects of high temperatures. Various measures are planned to take care of the population, particularly these people:

• Enlarge the network of climate shelters: the goal is for everybody to have one within five minutes of their home.
• Pla Clima Escola: a plan to improve temperatures at 170 schools, with air-conditioning, green rooftops, shade, ventilation points and water points.
• More comfortable temperatures in homes for the elderly.
• Parks and gardens open longer hours.
• Strengthening of energy advice points.
• Strengthening of support programmes for the most vulnerable, such as the Radars and telecare services.
• Training for carers with home support services.

Improving temperatures in buildings

Action includes the renovation of homes, subsidies and advice, the optimisation of the regulations on energy efficiency, the promotion of reflective green rooftops, solar panelling and water storage systems.

Emergency protocols will also be reviewed and work carried out on a protocol that includes all the municipal areas involved: Social Rights, Climate Action, Urban Services, Education, Health, Elderly People etc.

There will also be a boost for research and innovation, with municipal policies and services to be adapted.

What might happen if we reach 50 degrees?

The analysis made so far will be complemented with a drill on the city at 50 degrees centigrade, an exercise to be conducted two years from now.

The goal is to assess the response capacity in a situation of extreme temperatures, and at the same time identify weak points to develop strategies for improving resilience.

This drill must entail the participation of municipal services and external stakeholders.

Participatory and reviewable plan

The plan includes the results of the debates generated during the participatory process. Specifically, seven sessions were conducted with interested organisations, such as residents’ associations, universities and organisations linked to climate topics, with over 180 attendees taking part.

The Heat Plan has an initial budget of 111.6 million euros and will be rolled out in the period up to 2035, with reviews every five years and inter-departmental follow-up based on indicators for health, greenery, temperatures and more.

The strategy to tackle the heat is set out in the Climate Plan, the municipal programme to adapt the city to the effects of the climate emergency.