When the city burns: strategies against the heat

Catalonia has been burning for days. The asphalt is boiling in the cities, apartments are suffocating in the densest neighborhoods, and in many towns, shade is a rare luxury. The heat wave is relentless, with record temperatures approaching day after day. But not everyone experiences it the same way. For some, it's a nuisance; for others, a threat.

More than 40 people died in Catalonia in the last week of June from causes linked to other temperatures.And according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), last year there were more than 2,000 deaths across Spain. However, these figures could be an underestimate. According to the MACE tool, developed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), almost 12,000 people in Spain would have died from heat-related causes in the summer of 2024 alone—more than 1,600 in Catalonia. These causes include illnesses aggravated by high temperatures, such as cardiovascular and respiratory problems, or mental illnesses. Despite the fluctuating data—depending on whether only direct or indirect effects are counted—everyone agrees on the same diagnosis: climate change is not only causing temperatures to rise, but is also collapsing emergency services, exacerbating inequalities, and putting the lives of those living with illnesses or poorly managed children and the elderly at risk.

But it's not just the risk of death. Sustained heat also affects how we live, how we work, how we travel, and even how we learn. It can cause insomnia, irritability, lack of concentration, anxiety episodes, and worsening mental disorders. It reduces cognitive performance, especially in childhood, and in Catalonia, 60% of children and young people from low-socioeconomic families do not access summer camps, summer camps, or activities. Without school or educational or leisure options, they spend hours in small, overheated apartments, or exposed to the sun on the street. For thousands of children in Catalonia, summer is not synonymous with vacations but with thermal confinement.

When the heat arrives, not everyone can protect themselves. For many, air conditioning is an unattainable luxury. The concept of energy poverty is no longer only associated with the cold of winter, but also with the inability to guarantee a safe temperature in the home in summer. And almost 20% of households in Catalonia cannot afford to keep the thermometer at an appropriate temperature. Without thermal insulation, ventilation, or air conditioning, summer becomes a threat.

But the threat doesn't end at home. It also affects work. A week ago A cleaning service worker in Barcelona died shortly after finishing her shift.Like her, thousands of people—cleaning, caregiving, construction, and delivery—perform precarious and often invisible jobs, without protection from extreme temperatures. Even the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work warns: heat is an emerging occupational hazard.

Heat, therefore, not only accentuates educational and social inequalities, but also turns urban spaces into a risky environment for the health and well-being of those who live there. Far from being a refuge, the city can act as a heat trap.

To counteract this, cities like Barcelona have deployed a network of nearly 400 climate shelters: libraries, schools, community centers, museums, and parks that offer cool air, rest, and access to drinking water during the summer. The climate is still relatively dry, and many residents are unaware of its existence. It is also noted that its design has been more technical than participatory, and that more community-based and equitable management is needed.

Access to shade, drinking water, and ventilation cannot be a privilege. We need to expand green infrastructure, create more climate-controlled community spaces, and ensure that no one, in any neighborhood, is left out of climate protection. The city must cease to be a place of inequality and truly become a refuge.

Summers are getting longer and hotter. But the institutional response is still insufficient. Emergency measures are not enough: we need to reduce emissions, green cities, and protect the most vulnerable. The right to energy, safe working conditions, and livable urban environments must be guaranteed. Because living with dignity shouldn't depend on the weather forecast.