Gernika-Lumo sets up a network of 46 climate shelters to cope with extreme heat
08/05/2026
The local council is completing the participatory process that began in 2025, identifying accessible, nearby spaces to protect the public from high temperatures.
Gernika-Lumo has defined its municipal network of climate shelters, a preventive infrastructure designed to reduce the effects of extreme heat for its population. The result is a system consisting of 46 spaces distributed throughout the town, which will provide comfortable, safe conditions during periods of high temperatures.
The network is made up of 36 outdoor shelters —mainly parks and squares offering shade, vegetation and natural ventilation— 4 potential outdoor climate shelters and 6 indoor shelters in buildings with suitable thermal conditions. Climate shelters are designed to be accessible, free of charge and located nearby, specifically aimed at protecting the most vulnerable groups: older people, people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, children under the age of 4, and pregnant women. The requirements include full accessibility for people with reduced mobility, the provision of basic services, suitable opening hours during the warmest months and, in the case of indoor spaces, temperatures below 26 °C.
This step marks the end of a participatory process that began in 2025, during which the local council worked with residents and local actors to identify needs, find suitable locations and define the criteria that these shelters must meet. Face-to-face meetings and tools such as open surveys were used to gather input, which then helped to design a network tailored to the specific needs of the town.
The network will be operational between May and October, with a special focus on the central hours of the day, when the thermal risk is the greatest. These areas will also be clearly signposted and included in information leaflets to make them easier for the public to find and use.
This action is part of Gernika-Lumo’s local climate change adaptation strategy and the LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 project, within the framework of initiatives aimed at promoting public participation and empowerment. The process developed has made it possible to incorporate public input into the design of the network of climate shelters.
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