Valencia’s Climate Shelters Network

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Valencia faces increasingly intense heatwaves, with over 100 heat-related deaths each summer. Projections show this trend will worsen, prompting the city to implement innovative and inclusive cooling strategies across its neighbourhoods. 

^{Annual average temperature. Aemet, 2024} 

A Network of Climate Shelters 

To address the increasing intensity and frequency of heatwaves, Valencia launched a city-wide network of “climate shelters” in 2022. These are publicly accessible, thermally regulated spaces such as libraries, social service centers, and energy offices that meet specific comfort and accessibility criteria: air conditioning or natural ventilation, seating, toilets, drinking water, and ideally cultural or leisure activities. 

The initiative began with the mapping and classification of over 1,100 potential sites. In summer 2024, the first 10 shelters were activated, with plans to double the number in 2025 and keep them open all summer. 

^{Climate Shelter List. Valencia Clima I Energia, 2025} 

^{Example of Climate Shelter on the Climate Change Observatory. Valencia Clima I Energia, 2025.} 

From Planning to Activation 

The project was developed by València Clima i Energia in collaboration with various municipal departments and supported by the Covenant of Mayors’ Policy Support Facility. A roadmap was created in 2023, outlining a phased approach: stakeholder engagement, pilot implementation, public awareness, and scaling. 

Although Valencia experienced no official “red alert” days in 2024 due to limitations in the national heat risk algorithm, the city chose to activate the shelters proactively, prioritising public health. This decision marked a shift from reactive to preventive adaptation, ensuring that vulnerable populations had consistent access to safe, cool environments. 

^{Valencia Clima I Energia, 2025.} 

Community Training and Local Action 

In parallel, the Coolturate project (2023–2024), funded by the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH), trained over 30 local agents on summer energy poverty and heat adaptation. The program offered two tracks: one focused on household-level interventions (e.g., ventilation, shading, low-tech cooling), and another on community-scale strategies. Participants included municipal staff, NGOs, and neighborhood leaders. 

The training led to participatory mapping of hot and cool spots in several districts, the distribution of enhanced energy efficiency kits (including fans and reflective blinds), and the launch of public workshops on heat resilience. These actions were integrated into the broader climate shelter strategy, reinforcing its community-driven dimension. 

^{Coolturate project activity. Clima I Energia, 2025.} 

Stakeholder Collaboration 

Valencia’s climate shelter network relies on strong cross-sector collaboration. Key stakeholders include: municipal departments (climate, social services, health, culture), academic institutions (e.g., Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), NGOs (e.g., Cáritas Diocesana), and local energy offices.  

Main Challenges to Address Heatwaves

• Inadequate Heat Alert Triggers: Despite experiencing high temperatures, Valencia did not receive official national heat alerts in 2024, limiting the automatic activation of shelters and highlighting the need for more localised and responsive criteria.
• Operational Coordination Across Facilities: Aligning opening hours, infrastructure upgrades, and communication across diverse public buildings—such as libraries, social centers, and energy offices—proved logistically complex, especially under short timelines 

Lessons Learnt and Next Steps

• Flexibility in criteria (e.g., not relying solely on heat alerts) is key to protect public health and ensure shelters remain open throughout the summer, regardless of official warnings.
• Leverage Existing Infrastructure: Formalising and communicating the availability of public buildings as cooling spaces can significantly enhance urban resilience.
• In 2025, the city will expand the network to 20 shelters, improve entertainment and educational offering, continue staff training, and deepen community engagement. 

Replicability

The climate shelter initiative in Valencia offers a replicable model for cities aiming to address extreme heat. By utilising existing public facilities—such as libraries, museums, and social centers—the city provides accessible, air-conditioned spaces without requiring visitors to make purchases, unlike private venues. 

This strategy not only ensures equitable access to thermal comfort but also incorporates public education, awareness, and community engagement. Other cities can adopt similar approaches by mapping available public spaces, establishing clear criteria, and fostering coordination across municipal departments. 

Valencia is part of the Cities Refresh campaign, creating lively and safe places for all.

Valencia's Refresh

Solutions to address heatwaves: 2

Maximum temperature reached during extreme heat events: 44.5 °C

• Nature
• Urban Design and Technology
• Community Driven
• Governance
  • Establishment of climate shelters in public facilities (libraries, social centers, etc.)
  • Community training and participatory mapping
  • Expansion of energy efficiency kits to include cooling materials
  • Awareness campaigns and online maps 

Expected results with the solutions implemented:  

• Improved protection of vulnerable populations during heatwaves
• Improved access to cool, public, inclusive spaces during heat waves  
• Empowered local stakeholders and residents on heat-related health risks and available adaptation resources through training and awareness 

Covenant Figures 

Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors since: 2009

Emission reduction ambitions:  

• Overall CO2 emission reduction target: 80% by 2050
• % GHG emissions reductions by 2030: 40%
• % GHG emissions reductions by 2050: 80%

City Awards

• Green Capital 2024
• EU Mission Label for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.