The political party Más Madrid will present an initiative at the upcoming municipal plenary session on June 30th to establish a Network of Climate Oases in the capital. The plan involves adapting 181 existing public spaces and facilities, spread across the city's 131 neighborhoods, to provide shaded areas, water access, vegetation, and free activities during the summer months.
Rita Maestre has criticized what she considers 'inaction' from the local government, led by José Luis Martínez-Almeida, in adapting urban infrastructure to climate change. In this context, the municipal spokesperson met with representatives from the 'Aprender sin Calor' (Learning without Heat) Platform to analyze the impact of high temperatures on the region's schools.
The project details that these climate oases would function as a public urban network, connecting outdoor and indoor areas by utilizing current resources such as parks, squares, libraries, and cultural centers. The proposal includes extending opening hours, increasing permeable surfaces and vegetation, installing water play systems similar to those in Madrid Río, rest areas, and book exchange points.
Más Madrid emphasizes that the network aims to guarantee the 'right to cool down' accessibly and free of charge, prioritizing groups most vulnerable to extreme heat, such as children, the elderly, individuals with chronic conditions, those living alone, or outdoor workers. The party argues that in the southern and eastern districts of the city, between 20% and 30% of households struggle to maintain adequate temperatures in their homes, compared to the city's average of 15%.
The initiative directly questions the effectiveness of the municipal executive's heat action plan, which Más Madrid deems insufficient. They cite the opening of only one or two additional senior centers per district, the planning of four new urban misting systems, or the designation of the SAMUR Social headquarters as a shelter for the homeless as examples of limited measures.
The opposition also criticizes the economic cost of summer leisure plans for families, estimating a weekly expense of around 400 euros for a family of four on activities like summer camps or the Veranos de la Villa program. Más Madrid advocates for climate oases to be an essential, free, and community-based public service that complements the city's digital resource map.
