Seville has become the first city in the world to start naming and classifying heat waves, which are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of climate change.
"We are the first city in the world to take a step that will help us plan and take action when this type of weather event occurs," said Mayor Juan Espadas.
Heat waves will be named according to three categories and in reverse alphabetical order. The first five will be called Zoe, Yago, Xenia, Wenceslao and Vega.
A main reason behind proMETEO Sevilla - the collaboration between the city and Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller (Arsht-Rock) - is to link weather forecasts with health warnings.
"This new method is intended to raise awareness of the deadly impact of climate change and ultimately save lives," says Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of Arsht-Rock, a think tank that seeks solutions to climate risks.
Each of the three categories (one being the least severe) will be accompanied by a specific set of safety measures and policies, such as the opening of city swimming pools and water parks, or the activation of community health workers who will check on the elderly and people others at risk.
The naming of heat waves also points to an important reality: these are no longer "freak" weather phenomena. Knowing the risk of a heat event or unusually hot summer can allow preparations to occur earlier.
California is considering heat wave designation. Greece is also reportedly planning a heat wave system after the worst heat wave in decades sparked fires across the country last year.
