HOW-TO GUIDEHeat & Health

How to cope with a heatwave

Because when the heat settles in, the way we move through the day must change with it.

Woman shielding from the sun and drinking water during a heatwave

When a heatwave hits, it’s not just the temperature that rises — daily life shifts. Streets empty, shutters close, and simple routines start to feel heavier. Across the Mediterranean, people have long known how to live with heat. What’s changing now is the intensity — and the need to be more intentional about how we protect ourselves, each other, and nature.

Step 1

Work with the rhythm of the day

Heatwaves are as much about timing as they are about temperature.

Shift your day where you can. Step outside early in the morning or later in the evening, and slow things down when the heat peaks — usually between midday and mid-afternoon.

Clothing helps more than we think. Loose, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen in light colors allow air to circulate and protect your body from direct sunlight.

Living with heat is not about pushing through it — it’s about adjusting to it.

Step 2

Keep your body cool and hydrated

Your body is your first line of defense.

Drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty yet. By the time thirst kicks in, you’re already catching up. Cooling doesn’t have to be complicated. A quick shower, soaking your feet, or placing a damp cloth on your neck or wrists can quickly lower your body temperature.

Simple, repeated actions throughout the day can make a real difference, especially during heatwaves that last days or weeks.

Step 3

Keep the heat out of your home in a climate-smart way

The idea is simple and works: keep heat out during the day and let cooler air in at night.

Start by blocking heat from entering. Close windows, curtains, or shutters on sun-facing sides during the day to keep indoor spaces cooler. Once temperatures drop, let your home breathe. Open windows in the evening or on shaded sides to allow cooler air to circulate. You can also reduce heat buildup naturally. Plants on balconies, rooftops, or near windows create shade and help limit the amount of heat buildings absorb. Use floor or ceiling fans to improve air circulation, and turn on the air conditioner only when really needed, especially for vulnerable people.

Used consistently, these simple measures can make a noticeable difference — often without relying heavily on energy-intensive cooling.

Step 4

Look out for others — and for your surroundings

Heatwaves are never experienced alone.

Check in on those most at risk: older adults, people living on their own, pregnant women, young children, or anyone with health issues. Sometimes, a quick call, a short visit, or offering water and shade can make a real difference. Care extends beyond people. Pets and livestock also struggle in extreme heat — make sure they have access to water, shade, and rest. Where possible, even small gestures can help animals in the wider environment cope. At a community level, simple actions add up: maintaining shared water points, caring for trees and plants, and using shaded spaces in the evening all help keep neighborhoods livable.

And just as importantly, share what works. In many places, practical solutions already exist, passed quietly between neighbors, families, and friends.

Why it matters for the climate

Many cost-effective ways of coping with heat — closing shutters, using shade, cooling the body with water, adjusting daily rhythms — are not new. They are part of how Mediterranean societies have lived with summer for generations. Today, they matter even more. For many people in our region, costly building upgrades are simply not a viable option. At the same time, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer, and more intense due to climate change. Relying on energy-intensive cooling, such as air conditioning, increases both energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions — reinforcing the very warming we are trying to adapt to. Combining simple, low-energy practices with modern cooling as a last resort helps ease this pressure. And when scaled up, these actions go beyond individual homes. Trees, plants, shaded spaces, and shared water points help cool entire neighborhoods. On their own, these choices may seem negligible. But across streets, buildings, and cities, they shape how well communities can live with heat, and how much they contribute to limiting it.