In 2019, 356,000 people worldwide died from heat waves
Along with climate change, urban planning has led many cities to become scorching hot during the summer months, with tall buildings blocking the coastal breeze and green, shaded areas fading away in favor of concrete.
A recent study found that more than 356,000 people died from heat waves around the world in 2019, and more than 100 people lost their lives in the unprecedented heat that swept through western Canada and the provinces. United States this summer. In response, many cities have opened “refreshment centers” for people to escape the sun, and now Spain is following in their footsteps.
In Barcelona, the city hall has established 162 locations that offer a cool break from the sun. Libraries, sports centers and museums appear on the climate shelter map and will operate between June 15 and September 15, when temperatures are the highest. In addition, around ten schools have been adapted to cope with the impact of heat waves.
In addition to opening climate shelters, Seville City Hall announced in October that it would launch a pioneering project to study and categorize heat waves according to their impact on human health, with the aim of anticipating and addressing implement protective measures.
When presenting this initiative, one of the promoters described heat waves as a ‘silent killer’ that must be tackled, as they ‘wreak havoc on our economies, affecting the most vulnerable members of the community. society and kill more people than any other climate threat. ”.
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