A network of 46 climate shelters in Gernika-Lumo to protect citizens from extreme heat

06/02/2026

In the Elai Alai Hall, the City Council presented the conclusions of the participatory process that defines accessible, fresh and local spaces. 

Rising temperatures and the frequency of heat waves are no longer a distant hypothesis, but a reality that is starting to condition urban life. Against this backdrop, the City Council’s Environment Department presented the conclusions of the participatory process in the Elai Alai Hall in Gernika-Lumo, in order to define the future Babesleku Klimatikoak (Climate Shelters) Network, a preventive infrastructure designed to reduce the effects of extreme heat on the population, especially on vulnerable groups. 

The project proposes the creation of a network of 46 spaces throughout the municipality: 36 outdoor shelters, mainly parks and squares with shade, vegetation and natural ventilation; 6 indoor shelters, located in buildings that maintain comfortable thermal conditions; and 4 potential spaces, which could be incorporated into the network through future improvements or agreements. They will all be defined by means of individualised technical data sheets, identified with signage and indicated in an information leaflet that will include location maps and heat wave recommendations. 

Preventive and everyday tool 

"The network is not an emergency solution, but a daily tool for prevention and care", explained the Councillor for the Environment, Jon Lejarraga, during the presentation. "We want everyone to know that they have a place where they can take shelter from the heat in safe and dignified conditions less than ten minutes away from their home. 

The design of the network follows the guidelines set out by Ihobe, defining seven fundamental requirements for a space to be considered a climate shelter: universal accessibility, free and open access, proximity, thermal comfort - with indoor temperatures below 26 degrees -, adequate opening times during the hot months, availability of basic services and clear signage. In the case of outdoor shelters, priority is given to areas with shade, vegetation and natural ventilation, although some shelters without fountains or toilets have been included as an exception in order to reinforce territorial coverage. 

The network will be operational between May and October this year, with a special focus on the central hours of the day, when the thermal risk is the greatest. For indoor shelters, such as the Santa Luzia chapel and social centre, the Market Square, the Jai-Alai pelota court or the Association of the Elderly, specific protocols need to be established in order to guarantee their opening during the hottest hours on days when heat wave alerts have been activated. In the case of the Santanape sports centre, the document proposes analysing the feasibility of keeping it open between 2pm and 5pm hours during such episodes, although it usually closes in summer. 

A municipality vulnerable to heat 

The project is part of the European LIFE Urban Klima 2050 programme, coordinated by Ihobe and supported by the European Union, and addresses climate projections of particular concern for the municipality. Studies indicate that average summer temperatures could rise by up to 4.1 degrees by the end of the century, with absolute maximum temperatures reaching 40.5 degrees. This is compounded by the high rate of population ageing and the urban heat island effect, which hinders the natural cooling of the built environment. 

The network is organised into four major geographical areas: Santa Luzia (south), Erdigunea (centre), Errenteria-Lorategieta (north-east) and Santa Ana (north-west) and includes emblematic spaces, such as the Pueblos de Europa Park, the Market Square or the Jai-Alai pelota court. Other places, such as Errekazarra Park or Calle Industria, have been left out for the moment due to lack of shade or accessibility problems, although the document identifies their potential for improvement. 

Looking towards the future, the City Council plans to expand the network through agreements with other institutions, which would allow for the incorporation of strategic buildings, such as the Peace Museum, the Assembly House, the Euskal Herria Museum or various churches in the municipality, currently listed as potential refuges. 

Lejarraga pointed out that "this project does not replace healthcare but it can prevent risky situations and offer initial relief during extreme heat episodes. The presentation marked the transition from listening to citizens to the technical implementation of a network that places climate adaptation at the heart of urban planning.