Portugal needs cooling centres to protect vulnerable during heatwaves – health experts

Health experts are calling on municipalities across Portugal to establish air-conditioned cooling centres to protect vulnerable people as the country experiences increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.

The appeal comes from the Portuguese Council for Health and the Environment (CPSA), which says Portugal has already experienced five heatwaves this year, totalling 59 days with temperatures at least 5ºC above the seasonal average. This week, temperatures may climb to upwards of 40ºC in many parts of Portugal.

The organisation argues that the growing impact of extreme heat requires a coordinated response involving local authorities, the health system and central government.

“Heatwaves are the consequence of climate change, which is unfolding in line with the most pessimistic scenarios,” CPSA president Luís Campos told Lusa news agency.

He said Portugal is particularly vulnerable because of its proximity to North Africa, its ageing population and “significant social inequalities” that leave many people without adequately cooled homes.

The NGO is therefore calling on every municipality to designate at least one air-conditioned cooling centre – accessible public spaces with extended opening hours, drinking water and social support services where people can shelter during periods of extreme heat.

The council is also urging health authorities to strengthen real-time monitoring of heat-related illness and mortality, keep contingency plans up to date in hospitals, health centres, care homes and nurseries, and proactively contact people considered most at risk, including older adults, those with chronic illnesses and people experiencing homelessness.

Campos said public information campaigns should also explain how to stay safe during heatwaves, including the importance of hydration, keeping homes cool and recognising the symptoms of heatstroke. Lifeguards have also spoken out this week about the increased risk of drowning during heatwaves.

According to data compiled by the council, Portugal experienced an average of one to three heatwaves a year until 2021. Since 2022, that has risen to between six and eight annually, with the events becoming longer, more intense and increasingly occurring outside the traditional summer months.

“Therefore, this is something we must be aware of, and we must adapt to this worsening trend in heatwaves,” Campos said.

Beyond emergency measures, the council is also calling for longer-term investment in greener cities through additional parks and tree-lined corridors, green roofs, more public drinking fountains, urban materials that absorb less heat and improved shading and ventilation in buildings.

“Municipalities must map out heat islands, the areas where temperatures are highest, as the temperature difference between the hottest areas and the outskirts of the city can reach 7°C,” he said.

The NGO is also advocating specific legal protections for workers exposed to extreme heat.

Source: LUSA

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.