2024-09-23

MADRID - Heat is killing thousands of people in Southern European cities but what is being done in Barcelona, Milan and Lisbon about it? In 2023, more than 45.000 people died in Europe due to heat-related causes, with the southern countries topping the list.

Adaptive solutions are available. A cross-border investigation of Maldita.es (Spain), Mensagem de Lisboa (Portugal), and Slow News (Italy) looks into city-level solutions that are mitigating heat risks in urban areas.

Barcelona has become a leading example in battling heat-related deaths through its network of 360 climate shelters, which offer residents a place to escape from extreme heat by providing cool temperatures, water, and seating. In Lisbon, due to lack of a concerted strategy by the City Council, citizens have intervened. In some of the city's neighbourhoods, residents have installed swimming pools in the streets and one city resident has created an interactive map that allows people to find where the nearest climate shelters are.

In Milan, a project aims to plant 3 million trees by 2030 was implemented to increase the canopy cover and mitigate the effect of urban heat islands and air pollution. The proof that this solution works has already existed in the city for two centuries: tree-lined avenues and parks, designed since 1780, show temperatures up to 10°C cooler than the surrounding areas.

The investigation includes an analysis of the data on deaths related to heat in Europe and across the three countries, requests of FOIs to local and regional authorities and interviews to a dozen of experts, institutions and citizens affected.

Photo by Rita Ansone

Team members

Ana da Cunha

Ana da Cunha is a professional journalist from Mensagem de Lisboa.

Ana da Cunha

Inês Leote

Inês Leote (Portugal) is a photojournalist at Mensagem.

Inês Leote

Frederico Raposo

Frederico Raposo is a professional journalist from Mensagem de Lisboa.

Frederico Raposo

Mariana Vital

Mariana Vital is a journalist intern at Mensagem de Lisboa.

Mariana Vital

Catarina Carvalho

Catarina Carvalho is the founder and editor of Mensagem de Lisboa.

Catarina Carvalho

Dora Santos Silva

Dora Santos Silva (Purtugal) is a lecturer and a researcher.

Dora Santos Silva

Gabriela Ferreira

Gabriela Ferreira is a journalist and PhD candidate in Communication Sciences at NOVA FCSH.

Gabriela Ferreira

Ainhoa Díez Ruiz

Ainhoa Diez is a data journalist battling disinformation at Maldita.es climate section.

Ainhoa Díez Ruiz

Maribel Ángel-Moreno

Maribel Ángel-Moreno is a data and investigative journalist focused on climate and the environment.

Maribel Ángel-Moreno

Coral García Dorado

Coral García Dorado is an investigative Journalist and project coordinator.

Coral García Dorado
Media

Maldita.es

Founded in 2018, Maldita.es is a leading non-profit foundation and media outlet that fights against misinformation in Spanish and promotes transparency through fact-checking and data journalism techniques.

Maldita.es

Mensagem

Mensagem is a community journalism local media based at A Brasileira Café in Chiado district, downtown Lisbon (Portugal).

Slow News

Slow News strives to create a space for reflection, dialogue, and understanding, inviting our audience to journey with us beyond the headlines.

Slow News
Supported
€18,700 allocated on 24/06/2024
ID
SOJO/2024/A/061
Grant

ONLINE

COUNTRIES

  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Italy

need resources for your own investigative story?

Journalismfund Europe's flexible grants programmes enable journalists to produce relevant public interest stories with a European mind-set from international, national, and regional perspectives.

Apply

support independent cross-border investigative journalism

We rely on your support to continue the work that we do. Make a gift of any amount today.

Donate