canary islands climate refuges greenpeace

Canary Islands’ climate refuges still not fully operational

Compiled with the help of artificial intelligence, based on Spanish-language information. Source below the article.

Heat is no longer simply a matter of thermometers. When temperatures soar, so does the risk for those with nowhere to shelter from them. That is why climate refuges have gone, in just a few years, from being a measure tied to climate change adaptation plans to becoming an increasingly pressing necessity in cities. These spaces are designed to offer respite from high temperatures and, in some cases, from other extreme weather events, especially for the most vulnerable people.

Older people, children and those with certain health conditions are among those who can feel the effects of extreme heat most intensely. Yet the Canary Islands still do not have a fully operational network. While extreme temperatures force people to look for spaces where they can escape the heat, the archipelago remains at the preliminary stage of identifying locations that might one day become these thermal oases.

Greenpeace criticises the lack of an effective network

The situation has been questioned by Greenpeace, which warns in a report that the Canary Islands still lack an effective network of climate refuges and turns the spotlight on how the authorities are responding to a problem that hits the most vulnerable population particularly hard. The organisation maintains that the Canary Islands Government has so far limited itself to publishing a guide with recommendations for designing this type of space, without a fully deployed and accessible public network yet existing.

For its part, the regional government insists the process is under way. The authorities have identified between 250 and 7,050 potential spaces across more than 70 municipalities in the islands, which are at various stages of cataloguing and adaptation. The intention is for some of these places to eventually form part of a future Canary Islands network of climate refuges that can be consulted on an official map.

What exactly is a climate refuge?

A climate refuge is a natural or urban space that offers favourable environmental conditions to protect public health against episodes of extreme heat and other phenomena linked to climate change. It may be an indoor space, such as a library, museum, civic centre or sports hall, or an outdoor space with trees, vegetation, shade, water and conditions that help reduce exposure to high temperatures. The aim is to provide a nearby place where people can find safer, more comfortable conditions when the heat becomes extreme.

In cities, these spaces can also help to combat the so-called urban heat island effect, caused by the accumulation of heat on surfaces such as asphalt, concrete and other urban materials.

Indoor and outdoor refuges

Climate refuges fall mainly into two broad categories. Indoor climate refuges are buildings or facilities capable of maintaining suitable thermal conditions during heat episodes. During periods of extreme heat, the local council or the regional government formally activates them under this category. As a reference, these spaces can maintain an indoor temperature of roughly 26-27°C, so that they function as places of protection during episodes of extreme temperatures.

Outdoor refuges are open-air spaces capable of offering protection against high temperatures thanks, above all, to vegetation, shade and the presence of water. Tree-lined parks, gardens, promenades, shaded squares, green areas, spaces with awnings or areas close to fountains and other water features can serve this function. At present, 49 municipalities in the Canary Islands have indoor climate refuges, while 50 have outdoor refuges or adapted green spaces.

Should a network be created, it will not be limited to large parks or public buildings. The strategy envisages different types of spaces that can act as refuges from the heat.

What makes a space work as a climate refuge

It is not enough to plant a few trees, install a fountain or fill a park with vegetation. For a space to function genuinely as a climate refuge, it must offer conditions capable of protecting against high temperatures and improving thermal comfort. And that can be measured through various indicators.

One of the most important is precisely shade. The amount of surface covered by trees and shrubs largely determines protection against direct solar radiation. The greater the vegetation cover, the more likely the space is to become a cool and habitable place during heat episodes. The type of ground also counts. Natural surfaces, green areas and permeable ground help to reduce the warming of the surroundings and create environmental conditions very different from those found on asphalt, concrete or cement.

Another basic element is access to water. In spaces intended for people, having drinking water fountains can make a difference on days of high temperatures. When the climate refuge is also designed with biodiversity in mind, other water features can be incorporated, such as ponds or small reservoirs, which also encourage the presence of wildlife.

The physical layout of the site is not a minor detail either. The topography, with its changes in level, small elevations and depressions, can create different environmental conditions within a single space. These variations can generate cooler, damper or more sheltered areas and encourage the appearance of small micro-habitats.

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