Lorraine Williamson
Barcelona is gearing up to face a future where 50-degree days could become reality. As part of a sweeping new heat resilience strategy, the city will stage a full-scale simulation of life under extreme temperatures – an unprecedented move in Spain.
The exercise, set to unfold in a designated urban zone by 2027, forms the centrepiece of Plan Calor – a 10-year heat action plan designed to strengthen the city’s defences against intensifying climate change. Backed by more than €111 million, the programme includes 47 targeted actions aimed at safeguarding public health, urban infrastructure, and essential services.
A real-world climate rehearsal
Barcelona’s heat stress drill will mimic conditions under a blistering 50°C scenario. Emergency teams will assess how hospitals, public transport, energy supplies and water systems respond, while closely monitoring citizen behaviour and reactions to heat warnings.
“The idea is not to speculate – it’s to test the limits of our systems and our communities under pressure,” said Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet. “Because this is not science fiction. This is our climate future.”
Drawing lessons from Paris and beyond
The Catalan capital joins a small but growing group of global cities confronting heat head-on. Paris ran its own urban heat simulation in 2023, providing a template for Barcelona’s plans. Officials also examined strategies deployed in Athens, New York, and London to guide their response blueprint.
Barcelona’s adaptation plan doesn’t stop at simulations. It’s a structural rethink of how the city cools, shades, and shelters its residents during scorching weather.
Scaling up urban cooling solutions
This summer alone, Barcelona has expanded its refugios climáticos – designated public cooling shelters – to 400 locations. These shaded, ventilated spaces in libraries, civic centres and green zones offer essential respite for vulnerable groups during heatwaves.
In addition, 200 outdoor areas will be covered with shade cloths, providing a total of five hectares of sun protection. The aim is to create cooler walkways, playgrounds and public plazas where heat no longer dictates behaviour.
Climate-ready schools and streets
Educational buildings are also undergoing upgrades. Using revenue from the city’s tourist tax, air conditioning systems are being installed across primary schools. The goal is to make 170 schools fully climate-resilient by 2029.
Meanwhile, an experimental reflective pavement is being trialled in Les Corts. The light-toned surface repels solar radiation instead of absorbing it, helping lower surrounding street temperatures – a direct response to the urban heat island effect, which causes cities to retain and radiate excess heat.
Local voices at the core
Unlike many top-down initiatives, Plan Calor was developed hand-in-hand with community groups. City officials consulted residents on the most urgent needs and practical solutions, ensuring the strategy reflects real experiences and concerns.
The full plan will be formally presented to the City Council this week, but the message is already clear: the heat is no longer coming – it’s here. And Barcelona intends to be ready.
Preparing for the heat to stay
With record summer temperatures already a familiar headline, Barcelona’s forward-thinking response could become a template for cities across Spain and southern Europe. The 50°C simulation may sound extreme, but as Bonet puts it: “Planning for it is not alarmist. It’s responsible.”
Sources: CadenaSer, LaVanguardia