The Cities Heat Detox: a new campaign shedding light on heat decarbonisation in cities

Yesterday, at European Sustainable Energy Week, the Covenant of Mayors – Europe initiative launched its new campaign: the Cities Heat Detox. Advocating for healthy heat in cities, the new campaign zooms in on decarbonisation of cities’ heating and cooling systems.  

The Covenant of Mayors – Europe is the EU’s largest initiative of local governments acting climate change, gathering over 10,000 cities and towns across Europe committed to the EU’s climate and energy targets. Heating and cooling accounts for close to 80% of all energy used by households, which in turn, are responsible for 21% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. This means that local governments, by transforming the systems that heat and cool households at city-level, can have a big impact on emissions, advancing the EU towards its climate neutrality target. 

The way we heat today, by burning fossil fuels, is detrimental not only to our environment, but also to our health and society. Detoxifying heat in cities means cleaner air, a stronger economy and enhanced energy security for everyone, ensuring a just transition and job creation in a new industry. There is no doubt: for a healthier and more secure future, our cities need a comprehensive cleansing of toxic heat sources.    

“Decarbonising heating is essential to reach Turku’s climate neutrality objective by 2029 and to create better quality of life for our citizens.” Minna Arve – Mayor of Turku, Finland. 

Local authorities have great power to make a widespread difference. The first essential step is for them to prepare a heating and cooling plan, as mandated by the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive EED for all cities and towns of more than 45,000 inhabitants. This plan allows cities to measure heat demand as well as identify current and potential heat sources. 

Once they have a comprehensive overview of their heating systems, local governments can substantially shift their cities’ heating systems by developing, expanding and decarbonising collective district heating networks. By feeding such networks with clean heat, alongside rolling out heat pumps, cities can phase out toxic sources from their heating and cooling on a large scale.    

The potential for cities to detox their heat is significant, but they cannot do it alone. For a successful detox, cities need capacity, knowledge, resources, favourable legal frameworks, and economic incentives. The Cities Heat Detox campaign is rallying cities and towns already committed to or interested in heating and cooling decarbonisation, aiming to raise awareness and unlock this potential. 

The Covenant of Mayors invites cities and towns of all sizes, at whatever stage of the heat decarbonisation process, to join the campaign. Let’s tackle this challenge together: join the movement of European cities detoxifying their heat, opting for a secure and healthy future for all.    

Find out how to get involved over the course of the campaign by signing up for all campaign updates. 

Subscribe to the campaign!

Don’t miss out on the first activities of the Campaign launch. 

• Make sure you swing by the Covenant of Mayors Stand at EUSEW, where you can showcase your city’s ideal heat detox.  
• Register for the campaign session on heat decarbonisation at Valencia Cities Climate Week. Learn from the barriers and levers what Covenant and Mission cities are doing to decarbonise their heating and cooling locally. Last day to register is June 14^th!  
• Share widely about the campaign with the help of the Detox Comms Package and repost on social media. 
• Coming soon: opportunities for cities to share your story as a part of the campaign. Stay tuned by subscribing to the campaign. 

For more information, visit the campaign web page and follow the #CitiesHeatDetox and #HealthyHeat4Cities on social media.