Madrid’s battle against extreme heat: How Zurich is strengthening the city’s climate resilience
Climate resilienceArticleJuly 21, 20255 min read
As record heat waves threaten cities worldwide, Madrid is taking action. Discover how the Spanish capital is working with Zurich Resilience Solutions to build a cooler, safer and more resilient future for its residents.
On May 29, 2025, Spain issued its first heat wave warnings of the year – well before the summer had reached its peak. In Seville, temperatures soared to a scorching 40.6°C (105°F), and for the next two days, several regions across the country recorded highs above 40°C (104°F).
Such extreme heat can be deadly. Once temperatures reach 35°C (95°F), the human body can struggle to regulate its internal temperature. This can lead to heat cramps, exhaustion, heatstroke and, in severe cases, death. According to scientific research, extreme heat is responsible for almost 500,000 deaths each year – more than floods, earthquakes and hurricanes combined.
It’s not just people who are affected. Many homes, schools, hospitals and essential infrastructure – like power plants – are not built to withstand prolonged high temperatures.
Madrid takes action on climate adaptation
“Our climate adaptation strategy has been greatly enriched by the insights from Zurich Resilience Solutions.”
Juan Azcárate Luxán
Deputy Director General of Energy and Climate Change
Madrid City Council
Recognizing these risks, Madrid City Council has made climate adaptation a top priority. Through its “Madrid 360” roadmap, the city is embracing nature-based solutions to tackle extreme heat. This includes replacing hard surfaces with green spaces and parks; planting more trees throughout the city; creating cooling water features; and increasing the use of shaded sidewalks and reflective building materials.
But with temperatures expected to continue to rise in the decades ahead, Madrid will need to continue to evolve its climate adaptation strategy.
“The climate risks analysis performed by Madrid City Council identified the main threats, from water shortages to biodiversity loss. But we found that extreme heat has the biggest impact,” says Juan Azcárate Luxán, Deputy Director General of Energy and Climate Change at Madrid City Council. “It directly affects the lives of our people, especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and outdoor workers. That’s why we began working with Zurich Resilience Solutions – to gain new perspectives on tackling extreme heat.”
Zurich Resilience Solutions, Zurich’s global risk consulting unit, uses data-driven methods to help Madrid City Council to assess and measure its short- and long-term exposure to extreme heat.
Specifically, Madrid City Council asked Zurich Resilience Solutions to analyze the impact on schoolchildren and how its schools can become more resilient to heat. Hot weather can affect student performance, increase absenteeism and exacerbate health issues for children. Applying its systems-based approach, Zurich Resilience Solutions not only assessed classrooms risks, but also considered how children travel to school and where they live.
Understanding the urban heat island effect
One reason Madrid is particularly vulnerable is the urban heat island effect – a phenomenon where cities are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the built environment and heat generated from vehicles and other sources. In central Madrid, temperatures have been recorded up to 8.5°C (15.5°F) higher than in nearby rural areas.
“Madrid has a very dense downtown,” explains Francisco Lisbona, Head of Zurich Resilience Solutions in Spain. “It’s a highly urbanized environment covered in concrete and asphalt. These materials absorb heat during the day, then slowly release it when the sun goes down. It means the city gets no respite from the searing summer heat. But with the right strategies, we can help the city adapt and improve the quality of life for its residents.”
Madrid’s experience isn’t unique. More than 350 cities worldwide, home to 200 million people, already experience summer temperatures above 35°C (95°F). By 2050, these numbers could rise to 970 cities and 1.6 billion people, according to C40 research.
Building city resilience
What’s the solution? “Adaptation,” says Amar Rahman, Global Head of Climate & Sustainability Solutions at Zurich Resilience Solutions. “Cities need to plan for heat waves and educate residents on staying safe. Businesses must adapt buildings and working hours to cope with higher temperatures. While retrofitting buildings can be costly, it will help to relieve pressure on infrastructure and protects people and workers.”
But Rahman notes that making a city heat-resilient is complex, as extreme heat creates interconnected risks that impact essential services like health, water, energy, transport and utilities. “The problems facing Madrid apply to hundreds of cities all over the world and they are becoming more challenging. It’s crucial to bring together all city stakeholders – including energy, transport, education, health, tourism and other public offices. Everyone needs to understand the risks and take responsibility for implementing solutions.”
Azcárate agrees: “Zurich Resilience Solutions’ methodology was eye-opening. Their ability to analyze and connect climatic, spatial and social data helped us understand the cascading risks that extreme heat triggers in the city. We can now define these risks and their impacts more clearly, and design more effective solutions. Collaboration across city departments has become essential – not just for applying resilience measures, but for examining challenges from every angle. Our climate adaptation strategy has been greatly enriched by the insights from Zurich Resilience Solutions.”
As climate risks intensify, Madrid’s proactive approach and strong partnerships offer a model for cities worldwide. By working together, we can create safer, more resilient urban environments.
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