In Barcelona, more than 905,000 people in the metropolitan area live in neighbourhoods where social vulnerability and extreme heat overlap, according to a study by the Institute of Government and Public Policies (IGOP) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
For residents, the practical point is simple, heat risk is not spread evenly. The study says the worst-hit areas include parts of Barcelona city and nearby towns, so people in those neighbourhoods should follow local heat advice from the Ajuntament and check support services if they struggle to keep homes cool.
Which neighbourhoods are most exposed
The research, part of the ADIS, Adaptation to Climate Change in Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods project, uses data from the hot summer of 2022, according to UAB. It says lower-income, high-density areas and housing estates recorded the highest temperatures, with residents facing averages about 1C higher than in more affluent districts.
In Barcelona city, the study points to La Marina del Prat Vermell in Sants-Montjuïc, El Carmel in Horta-Guinardó, and Turó de la Peira and Can Peguera in Nou Barris. It also names nearby areas including L'Hospitalet, Cornellà, El Prat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Badalona.
What residents can do now
According to UAB, the gap matters most at night, when tropical nights can stop the body recovering properly and put the heart under constant stress. The study also says some tenants cannot install air conditioning because of rental agreements or building rules, while others cannot afford the electricity bill even if they can use it.
Residents who are worried about heat exposure should check their district's official guidance from the Ajuntament, and use local public-health advice if they are older, live alone, or have a medical condition. For background on the research, see the UAB site and the original report as covered by Ara.
The pattern is not limited to Barcelona. UAB says similar conditions appear in Madrid, Valencia and Seville, which suggests the same mix of heat and social vulnerability is affecting other Spanish metro areas too. For more local coverage, see our Community page.
