The project's main objective is to improve the city's preparedness for increasingly demanding climate scenarios of extreme heat in the coming decades. This initiative, presented by Mayor Jaume Collboni at the Saló de Cent, aims to identify vulnerabilities, interdependencies, and critical points in the city's protocols and coordination mechanisms.
Through workshops, an office simulation, and an operational field simulation, the effects of an extreme heat episode will be recreated to evaluate the response of the involved services. Extreme heat is one of the main climate risks for Mediterranean cities, affecting public health, basic infrastructure such as the electrical system, transport, telecommunications, and health and social services.
Mayor Jaume Collboni highlighted the importance of leaving a legacy of accumulated learning for future generations, considering this project a global challenge that many cities will have to face. The ultimate goal is to establish a definitive emergency protocol for extreme heat.
The project includes climate projections, identification of critical infrastructure, and the mobilization of all key stakeholders: municipal services, essential infrastructure operators, health centers, public facilities, social entities, and community networks. The conclusions will be used to update protocols and improve Barcelona's response capacity.
This initiative is part of the Heat Plan 2025-2035, which already includes measures such as the creation of climate shelters and improving thermal comfort in facilities. Barcelona also participates in international networks like Cool Cities of C40 and the '50 cities to 50' campaign by UNEP to share knowledge and best practices.
