Cosenza INPS opens Italy's first climate refuge for heat‑wave relief

The INPS office in Cosenza’s historic Piazza Loreto has been converted into a climate refuge, offering air‑conditioned space, water, seating and information to any citizen seeking relief from extreme summer heat. Director Angelo Maria Manna said the initiative aims to create public‑welfare value beyond traditional benefits and calls for cooperation with local institutions.

The Cosenza refuge is the first INPS‑run facility of its kind in Italy and joins a growing network of climate refuges being established across Italian cities. In Varese, officials are mapping existing shelters such as libraries, civic centres and parks to ensure that a cool space is within a short walk of every residence, reflecting a broader municipal strategy to mitigate health risks from increasingly frequent heat waves.