Spain announces funding for urban climate shelters

The government of the Balearic Islands has announced a new call for subsidies totaling 2 million euros to design and implement climate shelters in urban and peri-urban areas. Funded by the tourist stay tax, the initiative is divided into two programs: one for drafting or improving municipal climate shelter networks, and another for executing new outdoor shelters, improving existing ones, renaturalizing green corridors, and adapting public indoor spaces.

The funding is scheduled to be distributed with 1.6 million euros in 2027 and 400,000 euros in 2028. Eligible applicants include public entities, foundations, island councils, and city councils that are members of the Pact of Mayors. Projects must include features such as shade, vegetation, water fountains, and free, accessible, and signaled access.

In a separate development, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) has selected ‘Los lunes a la sombra’ by Víctor Ballesteros Mateos as the winning design for an urban climate shelter. The winning proposal, which could be replicated in other open spaces, received a 5,000 euro prize.