The Catalan government is seeking cooperation from local town halls to advance funding and accelerate the climate control of high schools, expanding the scope of the Clima Actualiza plan. While the initiative originally focused on primary schools managed jointly with municipalities, the Department of Education has now opened the door for towns to also assume the installation costs for high schools, which are property of the Generalitat. This move comes as the government extends the adhesion deadline by one month, pushing it past the initial mid-November cutoff, to allow more time for municipalities to review the details.
The Clima Actualiza plan, presented in mid-September, aims to climate control all 2,530 public centers within five years with an investment of 2.5 billion euros. The program includes aerothermal systems, building insulation improvements, and ventilation upgrades. Although the Generalitat committed to managing high schools, it requested that municipalities collaborate on primary schools by managing installations and advancing costs through their own funds or soft loans from the Catalan Institute of Finance. The regional government promises to reimburse these amounts over a decade.
However, local authorities have received the plan with skepticism and concern. Many fear that advancing such significant sums will strain municipal budgets and limit their ability to fund other essential services like road repairs, parks, and urban furniture. Lorena González, vice president of the Federation of Municipalities of Catalonia, emphasized that while climate control is necessary, it cannot come at the expense of municipal economic capacity or hinder attention to other local needs.
Specific concerns were raised by mayors from smaller towns regarding the financial burden. Lorena González, mayor of Balaguer, noted that her municipality's four schools could require over one million euros in total, a sum that might compromise other investments. Similarly, Meritxell Budó, mayor of La Garriga, questioned whether taking on debt for this purpose would leave municipalities with tied hands and treasury tensions, especially if the reimbursement from the Generalitat is delayed.
Critics argue that municipalities should not act as the bank for the regional government. Anna Feliu, mayor of Albi and a member of Junts in the Parliament, stated during an interpellation on October 6 that while towns can help speed up projects, advancing money for a competence belonging to Education is different from collaboration. The Federation of Municipalities echoed this sentiment, asserting that if Education drives the plan, it should assume financing from the start.
There are also fears regarding territorial inequity. Meritxell Budó, president of the Catalan Association of Municipalities, warned that only large towns with sufficient economic and technical capacity can handle these projects, potentially leaving students in smaller municipalities without adequate conditions. She also expressed concern that families might pressure town halls for climate control, even though the responsibility lies with the Generalitat.
Positions vary among larger cities. Barcelona has already launched its own plan to climate control all schools by 2029, funded by tourist taxes. L'Hospitalet has chosen not to evaluate the Education Department's program, opting instead for a localized approach where each of its 32 schools selects specific spaces, mostly dining rooms, rather than conditioning all classrooms as the Clima Actualiza plan envisions. Terrassa, the third-largest city, expressed willingness to help but needs to know the exact financial commitment before deciding if it is manageable.
In response to these objections, the Department of Education has sent a message of reassurance. Marta Clari, the general secretary, described the initiative as voluntary and complementary, acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge but framing it as an emergency climate situation that must be addressed. She highlighted that administrative tools now exist to solve the issue and encouraged municipalities to join, assuring them that the process is dynamic and they can still participate even if they do not commit immediately.
Sources: El País Portada.