A call for proposals is now open to municipalities to help identify where these refuges can be created, SAPO reports, and beneficiaries can be municipal councils and parish councils, individually or in association.

In the statement published in Official Gazette, it states: “The Program aims to create a national network of safe and thermally comfortable spaces that function as climate refuges during periods of extreme heat, protecting residents and visitors.”

The statement argues that extreme heat has a direct impact on tourism activity, namely “the reduction of comfort and mobility for residents and tourists, the increase in health risks for more vulnerable populations, and the decrease in the attractiveness of national tourist destinations.”

The aim of the project is to create and adapt infrastructure and public spaces, and the available funding for the competition is one million euros, ensured by the overall allocation of the Growing with Tourism Program, SAPO reports.

The competition includes several categories, the first one being: “Air Conditioning and Thermal Insulation," which includes the installation or replacement of highly energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as mechanical ventilation, ceiling or wall fans, and the installation of interior shading elements.

The second category, “Nature-Based Solutions and Exterior Shading," includes artificial shade structures, such as the installation of fixed or retractable awnings and shade sails, as well as the planting of shade trees or the reinforcement of existing tree lines.

In addition, funding is provided for hydration and active cooling structures that will reinforce drinking water points and public drinking fountains. The creation or rehabilitation of fountains and water features is also supported, “provided they fulfil a proven secondary function of local cooling.”

Another category is for “Comfort, permanence and well-being,” which directs funds towards the acquisition of “furniture suitable for prolonged stays,” such as chairs, sofas, armchairs, tables and benches, or, in parallel, the installation or reinforcement of free public Wi-Fi network infrastructure, SAPO reports.

The fifth category serves to improve accessibility, for instance through the construction of ramps and handrails, while the last category addresses the signage of spaces through information panels and the development of municipal maps.

Application requirements and further instructions can be found on the official website for the Climate Refuge Network at Turismo de Portugal.