Spain is launching a national network of climate shelters in public buildings to offer refuge from extreme heat before next summer, announced Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. He highlighted that "Devastating droughts and heatwaves are no longer rare. Some summers, it's not separate waves we face, but one long heatwave stretching from June through August. This is now the new normal." In 2025, Spain had its hottest summer ever and three heatwaves, including a 16-day heatwave in August with temperatures above 45°C (113°F), according to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). The shelters, funded by the government, will be available in areas "that need them most, where the heat really hits people the hardest," Sanchez said. These cool spaces will add to existing regional shelters in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Murcia. Barcelona alone has about 400 climate shelters in places like libraries, museums, sports centers, and malls offering air conditioning, seating, and free water. These shelters are meant especially for vulnerable groups such as older people, babies, those with health issues, and low-income individuals. Alongside this, the government will fund flood prevention plans and allocate €20 million (£18 million; $24 million) to fire prevention in small towns. Sanchez called for political unity, saying the climate pact "is not an electoral weapon... it is a shield for Spain." The move comes as heatwaves intensify worldwide from climate change. Spain recorded over 3,800 heat-related deaths this summer—an 88% increase from 2024—and suffered a severe wildfire season with more than 400,000 hectares burned.