Join the Cities Heat Detox, our new campaign spotlighting heat decarbonisation in cities!

If you visited our stand during the first day of European Sustainable Energy Week, you may have seen colourful posters, with lemons, cucumbers, blueberries and chia seeds brightening the halls of the European Commission. The occasion for such a mix was the launch of our new campaign: the Cities Heat Detox. 

During the three days at EUSEW, we are inviting cities to come by and showcase their city’s “ideal heat detox”, by assembling their unique mixture of heating and cooling methods with clean ingredients. Lemons, cucumbers, solar heat, geothermal, in a nice fresh glass of spring water…  

The city of Turku in Finland, for instance, gave us a glimpse of its district heating spring water, fed principally by cucumber (recovered heat from wastewater) and kale (biomass).  

“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. 

Advocating for healthy heat in cities, our new campaign zooms in on decarbonisation of cities’ heating and cooling systems. The benefits, the impact, the methods, the sources, the conditions… But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Because this detox journey is just starting and will last a full year. 

To start: we are focusing on the benefits of the Cities Heat Detox.  

Detox your heat for a healthy planet 

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. Detoxifying heating (and cooling) is essential for cities to reach their targets and get the EU closer to its climate neutrality ambitions. 

Detox your heat for cleaner air 

Such emissions are not just abstract numbers, they also have direct implications on air quality. Steering clear of toxic sources in your city greatly improves air quality, especially dense urban areas, protecting your city’s environment and citizens’ wellbeing.  

Detox your heat for a stronger economy 

By developing, expanding and renovating decarbonised district heating, as well as rolling out sustainable solutions such as heat pumps, you are supporting a more energy-efficient and modern economy, creating jobs in a new industry.   

Detox your heat for more resilient communities 

The latest energy crisis showed us clearly: gas and fossil-fuels can lead to price volatility, increasing energy poverty and negatively affecting more vulnerable communities. A just transition means ensuring energy security on the long-term and energy security for all populations, which can be guaranteed by heat systems nourished by healthy, renewable sources. Furthermore, phasing out fossil fuels in your city’s heating is sure to mitigate climate change’s long-term effects on local communities, strengthening them in the face of crisis. 

Detox your heat for healthy cities 

Fossil-fuelled heating, representing 72% of buildings’ heating in Europe today, contributes to climate change, energy insecurity and deteriorated air quality. There is no doubt: for a healthier and more secure future, our cities need a comprehensive cleansing of toxic heat sources.    

Revitalising cities’ potential 

Cities have the potential to make a big difference. Through effective heat planning and the expansion of collective solutions like decarbonised district heating, local governments can phase out toxic sources in their heating on a large scale.    

Although cities’ detox potential is significant, they cannot do it alone. For a successful detox, local governments 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, to raise awareness and unlock this potential. 

We invite cities and towns of all sizes, at whatever stage of the 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.    

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CAMPAIGN

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

• Make sure your 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 our Detox Comms Package and repost on social media. 
• Coming soon: opportunities for you to share your story as a part of the campaign. Stay tuned by subscribing to the campaign. 

For more information, visit our webpage and follow the #CitiesHeatDetox and #HealthyHeat4Cities on social media.