Climate refuge: what it is, why they are important and examples

A climate refuge is a place that, due to its geographical and climatic conditions, offers some protection against the most extreme effects of climate change. These places tend to remain relatively stable in temperature, water availability, and air quality, even when other regions face heat waves, prolonged droughts, wildfires, or frequent flooding.

Climate refuges can be urban, rural or natural areas that, due to their altitude, proximity to bodies of water or abundant vegetation, manage to soften the impacts of global warming. Some cities, for example, are investing in green infrastructure (such as parks, green roofs or street trees) to become cooler and more resilient spaces in the face of extreme heat.

Climate refuges play a key role in adapting to climate change. They mainly serve to protect people, ecosystems and infrastructure from increasingly extreme weather events. By offering more stable conditions, these places allow:

• Reduce health risks: in times of extreme heat, for example, a climate shelter can prevent heat stroke, dehydration or complications in vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly.
• Increase urban resilience: in cities, having green areas, natural shade and good space planning helps keep temperatures lower, drain water from heavy rains better, and cope with extreme events without collapsing.
• Protect biodiversity: In natural environments, climate refugia allow many species to survive sudden changes in climate.
• Offer security and quality of life: As some regions become increasingly difficult to live in, climate shelters can become destinations where people seek a safer and more stable life.

A climate shelter works thanks to a combination of natural and human factors that, together, create an environment that is more stable and protected from the effects of climate change. Its operation is based on minimizing the impact of extreme phenomena (such as heat waves, floods or droughts) and offering safer conditions for human life and the natural environment.

These are some of the elements that explain how a climate shelter works:

• Natural characteristics of the environment: many climatic refuges are located in areas with geographical advantages: proximity to bodies of water, moderate altitudes, abundant vegetation or temperate climates. These conditions help maintain milder temperatures and greater water availability.
• Climate-adapted infrastructure: In urban areas, a climate shelter can also be the result of good planning. The use of materials that do not retain heat, green roofs, shady streets, good natural ventilation and public spaces with vegetation help reduce the so-called urban “heat island.”
• Efficient water management: Climate refuges tend to have sustainable drainage systems, efficient water use and natural spaces that absorb excess rain, which reduces the risk of flooding or shortages in dry times.

Climate shelters are increasingly important because climate change is no longer a problem of the future: it is happening now. With more frequent heat waves, torrential rains, prolonged droughts and forest fires, many regions of the world are facing difficult living conditions.

Here are some key reasons why it is important:

• They protect human lives: in critical moments, such as during an extreme heat wave or a storm, a climate shelter can make the difference between life and death, especially for vulnerable people such as the elderly, children or those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
• They reduce pressure on health and emergency systems: by mitigating the extreme effects of climate, these spaces help avoid saturation in hospitals and reduce the need for emergency interventions.
• They foster more resilient communities: cities or regions that develop climate shelters are better prepared to face future crises.
• They preserve biodiversity: In natural environments, climate refuges are vital to conserve animal and plant species that could not survive in other places affected by extreme temperatures or habitat loss.
• They offer opportunities for fair and sustainable adaptation: not everyone has the means to move or protect themselves from the effects of climate change. Therefore, having accessible and well-distributed climate shelters is also a matter of social equity and environmental justice.

Climate refuges can be found in different parts of the world, and they do not always look the same: some are natural areas little altered by humans, while others are cities or neighborhoods designed to better adapt to the effects of climate change.

Let’s see some of the best-known examples in the world:

Freiburg, Germany

Freiburg is known as one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Its urban planning incorporates green roofs, electric trams, pedestrian streets, solar panels and many tree-lined areas. All of this helps reduce urban heat and maintain good air quality.

Scottish Highlands

This region has a temperate climate and abundant vegetation, which makes it an ideal refuge for many animal and plant species. Its low population density and the conservation of natural ecosystems allow it to better resist extreme phenomena such as heat waves or forest fires.

Vauban district, Freiburg (Germany)

This neighborhood, considered an ecological model, combines energy efficient housing, accessible public transportation, green streets and shared spaces.

Portland, United States

Portland has implemented nature-based solutions to reduce flooding: green roofs, permeable pavements, rain gardens, and zones that absorb excess water.

Medellin, Colombia

Medellín, located about 1,500 meters above sea level, enjoys a constant spring climate throughout the year. Furthermore, in recent years it has opted for the “ecocity”: green corridors, linear parks and sustainable transportation to mitigate the heat island effect.

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