The Canary Islands are being urged to step up the creation of climate shelters — urban oases designed to offer relief from extreme weather — as heatwaves and calima (Saharan dust storms) become more frequent and intense.
A Growing Urgency
The most recent heatwave, which lasted more than a week and affected both the islands and the Spanish mainland, has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the archipelago. Experts warn that extreme heat and calima episodes are no longer limited to summer months, making it imperative to expand the network of climate shelters across cities and towns.
These facilities can take many forms: parks, boulevards with shade and vegetation, sports halls, civic centres, or libraries. Their purpose is to provide comfortable conditions and access to water, allowing residents and visitors to withstand the hottest hours of the day.
A Deficit of Urban Oases
A recent multi-university study described Spain’s existing network of climate shelters as “clearly insufficient”, with an average of just one facility for every 23,000 inhabitants. The situation is particularly acute in the Canary Islands, one of Europe’s regions most exposed to climate change due to its island geography and proximity to Africa. The islands host 2.2 million residents and welcome around 17 million tourists annually, yet remain poorly equipped to deal with rising temperatures.
Barcelona is cited as a model to follow. Receiving around 200,000 visitors a day in summer, the city has developed a comprehensive network of shelters, accessible to every resident within ten minutes. With an average of 7,200 people per facility, Barcelona is considered an international benchmark. Catalonia also provides an online platform where residents can easily locate shelters.
Impact on Health and Economy
The consequences of extreme heat are already visible. According to Spain’s Ministry of Health, 1,800 people have died this summer from heat-related causes. For the Canary Islands, the implications extend beyond public health: experts stress that the lack of adequate shelter could undermine tourism competitiveness, the lifeblood of the islands’ economy.
In response, the Canary Islands Government has tasked its climate change and circular economy committee with developing a unified protocol for climate shelters across the archipelago. The guidelines will cover both natural spaces and urban structures and place special emphasis on accessible facilities for low-income residents, who may lack the means to secure comfortable housing.
Torrid Nights and Urban Heat Islands
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has recorded a doubling of warm and torrid nights in the islands over the past two decades. Urban centres face the additional burden of the heat island effect, where asphalt and concrete trap radiation during the day and release it at night, amplifying discomfort.
In October 2023, the archipelago endured the longest autumn heatwave in 60 years, with temperatures exceeding 35 °C on all islands. The anomaly was severe enough to force the suspension of school classes for the first time due to heat.
Calls for Greener Cities
In areas such as southern Tenerife, neighbourhood associations, environmental groups, and architects are pressing for “more trees, awnings, and pergolas, and less concrete” in public squares, pavements, and pedestrian zones. Although some municipalities have begun to adapt urban planning strategies, campaigners argue that much more must be done.
They call for measures including:
- Greener and shaded public spaces
- Heat-resilient housing and infrastructure design
- Improved protection for outdoor workers
- Expansion of accessible, climate-resilient facilities
Preparing for the Future
Experts stress that the Canary Islands face at least 36 distinct climate risks, ranging from heatwaves and droughts to rising sea levels and forest fires. But among these, high temperatures — both day and night — pose the most immediate and pressing danger.
The message is clear: if the Canary Islands are to remain habitable, competitive, and safe, the adaptation of urban spaces into climate shelters must accelerate, turning today’s scattered initiatives into a coherent, island-wide strategy.
