The Urola Garaia region has initiated the 'Guardasola Garaia: Shade for the Heat, Protection for the Citizens' campaign, aiming to raise awareness about the need for adaptation to climate change. Through this initiative, various spaces in the region will be covered with nearly 800 umbrellas, using the colors of the Agenda 2030 and the distinctive image of climate shelters. The installations, besides being visually striking, will convey a clear message: protecting oneself from the heat is a shared responsibility, and Urola Garaia is working to offer citizens safer, cooler, and more adequate spaces.
The umbrellas will appear progressively in the four municipalities of the region, without prior announcement of specific locations, to maintain a surprise effect. The scheduled dates are: in Zumarraga next Friday, June 26; in Urretxu on June 30; in Legazpi on July 2; and in Ezkio-Itsaso on July 20.
According to Uggasa, this initiative is the result of networked work involving Uggasa, the town councils of Legazpi, Urretxu, Zumarraga, and Ezkio-Itsaso, schools, business associations, and the tourism sector. They have collectively reflected on what can be done in the region regarding climate adaptation, how to act during heatwaves, how to better protect citizens, and how to prepare municipalities to respond to the effects of climate change.
The campaign will also incorporate the work carried out over the last two academic years within the framework of the School Agenda 2030. The eight schools in the region have addressed climate change, health, well-being, and climate shelters. One of the main conclusions from the diagnosis made by the students was the need to provide more information and raise awareness among the population on this issue. The recent Klima Tours conducted by students in the town squares, and now the umbrella campaign, continue this line of work.
They recall that institutions are working on defining a network of climate shelters. These shelters can be both indoor and outdoor spaces, aiming to help protect health and well-being during heatwaves or extreme temperatures. In the coming months, information will be provided to citizens about the outdoor spaces in each municipality that can currently offer an initial response on hot days. Meanwhile, the 'Guardasola Garaia' campaign aims to send a primary message: adapting to climate change is a challenge that must be addressed today, and in the face of heat, we need shade, protection, and community care.
Furthermore, they emphasize the importance that, during intense heat days like the current ones, citizens must also adopt self-protection measures: avoid direct sun exposure, stay adequately hydrated, and pay special attention to the most vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly.
