The FMRM, lead partner of the Interreg Euro-MED HEATSAFE project, brings together Cartagena’s Local Governance Group alongside EuroVértice to assess the municipal response to extreme heat and define new measures to prevent heat-related risks and protect citizens.
The Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM), as lead partner of the European Interreg Euro-MED HEATSAFE project, together with EuroVértice and Cartagena City Council, held a new meeting of the Local Governance Group at the La Milagrosa building in Cartagena. The meeting aimed to make progress in developing a municipal response protocol for extreme heat events and to improve coordination among the various municipal departments and organisations involved.
The meeting, held on 14 October, provided an opportunity to assess the municipality’s response to the heatwaves experienced during the summer. Participants reviewed the measures implemented, identified positive outcomes and discussed the challenges encountered, with the aim of incorporating these lessons learned into the planning of future actions.
One of the main objectives of the session was to identify and prioritise early response measures for periods of extreme heat, using an innovative multi-criteria tool developed within the HEATSAFE project. This tool makes it possible to assess different actions and select those that best address the municipality’s specific needs and characteristics.
The meeting also focused on the structure of the future municipal protocol, highlighting the importance of clearly defining the actions to be implemented, the municipal departments responsible for carrying them out, and the coordination mechanisms required at each stage, from prevention and early warning to emergency situations.
The involvement of different local stakeholders is essential to building an effective and coordinated response to extreme heat, particularly when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable individuals and population groups.
Among the actions planned under HEATSAFE in Cartagena are the creation of a network of climate shelters, the adaptation of public spaces, the installation of shading and irrigation systems, the monitoring of vulnerable people, and the development of public awareness campaigns.
The outcomes of this meeting will provide a basis for the development of the municipal protocol, which will subsequently be reviewed and validated by the departments involved. Work will also continue on preparing new communication and awareness-raising activities ahead of summer 2027.
A European Project Led from the Region of Murcia
HEATSAFE, funded by the European Union through the Interreg Euro-MED Programme and led by the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia, aims to strengthen the capacity of Mediterranean municipalities to prevent, manage and reduce the risks associated with rising extreme temperatures.
The project is being implemented in six European pilot areas, including Cartagena, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, and territories in Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and Italy. Its activities include the development of local action plans, climate vulnerability assessment tools and pilot demonstration actions.
Through HEATSAFE, the FMRM strengthens its role in promoting European initiatives that bring innovative solutions to local governance, encouraging the exchange of experiences and the development of tools that can be replicated in other municipalities across the Region of Murcia. 
