Percepciones y prácticas frente a las olas de calor de la población vulnerable de Lloret de Mar (Costa Brava)

The extreme temperature and heatwave events are becoming more frequent and intense in the Mediterranean coast. However, the risks are felt, perceived, and lived differently by population. By analysing the perception and lived experience of households in risk of social exclusion in Lloret de Mar, Catalonia, we aim to bring the summer and heatwaves challenges to the fore in the place where supposedly more sun has been conceived as a blessing for the tourism to thrive. Interviews and participatory mapping were conducted with 28 households. Majority of participants expressed thermal discomfort in Summer with difficulties to maintain home sufficiently cool. The hot spaces related largely to the role of caring in the daily activity, located mostly away from the coastal area. The lack of sufficient shade and the need to avoid tourists and concentration of people close to the beach are identified. Participants placed cool spaces to home, green area, or indoor spaces. The coping strategies largely depend on fan and natural ventilation, or resort at home and has the risk of trapping the households especially for those with limited social interaction.