San Sebastian expands its climate shelter network to protect vulnerable residents

San Sebastian has expanded its climate shelter network to 93 spaces as the city faces extreme heat, adding more free places where residents can cool down and rest during the hottest hours.

The expansion was reported on Monday, June 22, as temperatures in the city reached around 40C. The network now includes 37 public buildings and 56 green spaces, according to the report.

City officials have also added 60 urban green routes meant to connect the shelters through shaded, vegetated paths. The routes are part of the same effort to make cooling options easier to reach on foot during hot weather.

What the city added

The shelters are described as free and accessible spaces intended to provide thermal comfort during periods of intense heat. The reported additions this year include four public plazas and the Garbera shopping center.

The city also said it plans to keep widening the network, with future additions including La Bretxa and Koldo Mitxelena.

Who the shelters are for

The network is aimed especially at older residents, children and people with health problems or other heat-related vulnerability. City environment councillor Iñigo Garcia was quoted in the reporting on the expansion.

The public-health case is straightforward: in prolonged heat, people with limited cooling at home, chronic illness or reduced mobility can face greater risks. The city is presenting the shelters as a practical protection measure, not just a comfort amenity.

Heat context

The expansion comes amid a broader heat episode affecting Euskadi and Spain. Reporting from the same day said Euskadi had entered an extended period of red heat alerts, underscoring the regional pressure on residents and public services.

That broader context helps explain why the municipal network matters now. Free, nearby cooling points can make a difference for people who need relief quickly and may not be able to travel far in high temperatures.

A wider adaptation effort

San Sebastian has framed climate shelters as one part of a broader climate-adaptation strategy. The city says that work also includes urban renaturalization, biodiversity measures, energy-efficiency improvements and renewable-energy projects.

In that sense, the shelter network is not a one-off response but part of a longer effort to make the city more resilient to hotter summers. The immediate focus, though, is on access: more places, more routes and more options for residents who need relief during the heat.