Redesigning the city to survive extreme heat

The impact of climate change in urban environments is no longer a hypothesis: it is a measurable reality. Over recent decades, the average temperature in the Balearic archipelago has increased by 0.3 ºC per decade, and it is predicted that between 2040 and 2100 the frequency of heat waves will multiply. This phenomenon is exacerbated in urban areas, where the so-called "heat island effect" can raise local temperatures up to 5°C above the regional average.

Faced with this scenario, a programme combining scientific research, urban intervention and citizen participation has been launched. The first phase consists of mapping the most vulnerable areas using satellite imagery and thermal measurements, and cross-referencing them with social and health indicators. This mapping will serve to prioritise actions in public spaces that require urgent transformation: squares, parks, streets and school environments.

Each intervention will be designed in collaboration with the local councils and with the direct participation of neighbours, who can help define what these new adapted spaces should be like: more vegetation, shaded areas, permeable pavements, water points, rest areas. The plan is to implement up to 12 pilot projects with an estimated investment of 2.6 million euros, and to develop a roadmap for replicating the model in the future.

The ultimate goal is clear: to create a network of urban climate shelters that can provide relief from extreme heat, especially for the most vulnerable people. Beyond immediate comfort, this transformation aims to reduce the demand for air conditioning, improve air quality and recover public space as a liveable and healthy place in a context of the climate crisis.