A report prepared by a group of experts from the climate, health, social and education fields warns about the growing impact of heat in classrooms and states that, from 2030 onwards, there could be up to 65 days during the period school with temperature and humidity conditions that exceed heat index of 27°C — nearly a quarter of the school year. According to the study, the current network of school buildings will not be able to guarantee adequate learning conditions, and by 2050 temperature increases of up to 6°C are expected, especially during the school year. The report was authored by Mar Satorras (Institut Metròpoli), Joana Ortiz (IREC) and Isabel Ruiz-Mallén (UOC).

The research shows that excessive heat has a direct impact on learning: it reduces the ability to perform complex tasks, affects reading comprehension, and decreases neuronal activity and memory. In contrast, lowering classroom temperatures leads to improved academic performance.

The report also notes that current school buildings were designed for a climate that no longer exists. In this regard, nearly half of public schools are not prepared for the new climate context: 1,220 out of 2,500 buildings have not been renovated with adaptation criteria and show deficiencies in insulation, materials and ventilation, according to public information and the latest plans of the Education Department.

Regarding solutions, the experts point out that adapting all schools would cost less than €200 per student per year over a decade, with a maximum annual investment of €130 million. In contrast, inaction could lead to fewer school days, poorer educational outcomes, increased inequality, and the need for more expensive and less efficient measures in the future.

The report outlines a set of measures to upgrade public educational centres based on efficiency and equity criteria. These include an immediate heat action plan —featuring ceiling fans, night ventilation, shading, water points and cooled spaces— and a ten-year adaptation plan based on school diagnostics, comprehensive upgrades, playground transformation and climate education programme.

In this context, Equitat.org (formerly Fundació Bofill) proposes a plan to adapt all schools and secondary schools in Catalonia to the new climate context within a period of five to ten years, with an annual investment below €130 million. The initiative was presented this Monday at Hub Social Barcelona and calls for a country-wide agreement to ensure its implementation.

You can find the press release related to the act and the plan in this link.