Compromís demands quality climate refuge network in Sagunto amid heatwave risk
The Valencianist party Compromís has urgently called on Sagunto City Council to set up a quality network of air-conditioned public spaces to protect residents during extreme heat events.
Compromís argues that existing climate refuges in Sagunto fall short of acceptable standards and is pressing for a structural solution ahead of a summer that is expected to bring bouts of extreme heat. The party is calling on the municipal council to act urgently and to ensure accessible, fully equipped facilities spread across different neighbourhoods of the city.
The proposal comes at a time of growing concern over climate change: Spain's national weather agency AEMET defines a heatwave as at least three consecutive days where 10% of monitoring stations record temperatures above the 95th historical percentile, with the greatest risk to people over 65, those with chronic conditions, children and urban residents. The concept of a cooling centre — a publicly or privately run air-conditioned space opened during extreme heat — is already established in cities such as Barcelona, Los Angeles and Toronto; a 2023 UCLA study estimated that 20% of residents turn to such spaces during heatwaves. According to elperiodic.com, Compromís criticised the governing team for failing to respond to similar warnings raised in previous summers.