Urban ecology has taken center stage in the face of current environmental challenges, especially in cities like Barcelona and Murcia, where the transformation of urban space is considered key to addressing phenomena such as extreme heat, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. Cities are being forced to rethink their design and management to guarantee the health, well-being, and equity of their inhabitants—a challenge that involves public administration, the scientific community, and citizens themselves.
As summers lengthen, maximum temperatures break records, and the effects of climate change become more apparent, urban areas face a dual challenge: protecting their most vulnerable inhabitants and redefining the city model to foster resilience and quality of life. The debate on urban ecology, therefore, focuses on how to address these changes from a perspective that combines sustainability, social justice, and environmental efficiency.
Adaptation and climate justice plans in Barcelona
Barcelona has become a relevant case study for its Heatwave Plan , a comprehensive strategy that seeks to transform urban spaces to adapt to increasingly frequent and dangerous heat waves. With an investment of over €100 million, the city proposes measures such as the creation of climate shelters , the expansion of shaded areas, the replacement of asphalt surfaces with more thermally efficient materials, and the renaturalization of public spaces.
The objective is clear: to protect the most vulnerable population , especially the elderly, children, those with chronic illnesses, and people who work outdoors. However, experts like Salvador Rueda and Francesc Baró insist that action in public spaces alone is insufficient. The gap between neighborhoods in terms of access to green spaces, air quality, and the ability to keep homes cool during the summer reflects a profound urban inequality. Therefore, climate adaptation must prioritize improvements to the housing stock and citizen participation in decision-making.
Among the most popular proposals are climate shelters installed in parks, libraries, and community centers, as well as the expansion of green infrastructure . Experts warn, however, that these measures must be complemented by solutions that address energy poverty and improve the habitability of homes, especially in neighborhoods where the lack of green spaces and the predominance of asphalt increase the risk during heat waves.
Barcelona plans to conduct an extreme heat wave simulation to test its urban and emergency policies, highlighting the importance of anticipating the impacts of climate on infrastructure and public services, as well as people's health.
The role of urban greenery and biodiversity in urban resilience
The promotion of urban green spaces has emerged as one of the most effective strategies for adapting to climate change in cities. Studies and projects developed in Barcelona demonstrate that the presence of vegetation not only reduces ambient temperature and improves air quality, but also provides direct benefits for biodiversity and citizen well-being . The use of urban butterflies as bioindicators of ecological status and their role in citizen science projects, such as the uBMS Observatory, has allowed for adjustments in the management of parks and gardens to foster more natural and resilient environments.
The transformation of the gardening model—traditionally based on uniform lawns and high maintenance—is giving way to more varied and resilient green spaces . The planting of native species, which require less water, is being promoted, as well as practices such as reducing mowing, encouraging spontaneous vegetation, and creating ecological corridors that connect green areas. These actions not only favor biodiversity but also improve health and quality of life in increasingly dense urban environments affected by climate change.
Collaboration between government, scientists, and citizens has been fundamental to the success of these projects. Voluntary biodiversity monitoring, the formation of urban observer networks, and technical advice on municipal management have transformed urban ecology into a field where public participation is as important as technical planning.
Challenges and models applied in other cities
The case of Murcia illustrates how the effects of climate change impact different urban areas, especially those where building insulation is poor and heat waves increase mortality. The Sustainability Observatory highlights that more than a third of the Spanish population struggles to maintain a comfortable temperature in their homes during the summer, posing a direct threat to health and exacerbating social inequality linked to climate vulnerability.
In response to this situation, urgent action is needed to identify the most vulnerable groups, create early warning systems, increase green spaces, and implement solutions such as solar roofs or removing paving stones from plazas to reduce the urban heat island effect. Furthermore, it is proposed to label buildings according to their flood risk , promoting a comprehensive approach to climate change adaptation that addresses both heat waves and other environmental risks, such as recurring floods.
Despite its progress in reducing emissions, Murcia faces significant challenges in the ecological transition of its urban space and in promoting measures that improve equity and quality of life in the most vulnerable areas.
Active citizenship and tree management models
The protection and sustainable management of urban trees is a central issue on the environmental agenda of many cities. Initiatives by citizen groups in Málaga, for example, reflect public concern about urban development projects that involve the mass felling of trees. Environmental organizations and residents are demanding the conservation of as many trees as possible and the integration of these spaces into ecological corridors that connect neighborhoods and help combat urban heat islands.
Experts and civil society agree on the need to promote urban reforestation projects , prioritizing native and large-scale species, designing accessible green spaces, and including community participation in the planning process. This approach demonstrates that public health and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand, and that urban expansion should not result in an irreversible loss of biodiversity and environmental quality.
Recent experiences show that residents increasingly value the importance of green spaces in the city as an element of well-being. Likewise, experts emphasize the need to promote participatory environmental planning and review processes that guide growth towards fairer and healthier models, aligned with the principles of urban ecology.
With the increase in episodes of extreme heat and adverse weather phenomena, the ecological management of urban spaces, based on promoting green spaces, protecting trees and encouraging citizen participation, is confirmed as the best strategy to protect public health and build more humane, resilient and sustainable neighborhoods.