Taking carbon and gas out of our heating systems is necessary for healthier and more resilient communities, stronger economies, and a climate-neutral future. Find out what cities are doing to detox their heat from the Covenant of Mayor's new map!
The heating and cooling sector in Europe emits large amounts of CO2 and pollutes our air with acidifying gases and deadly particulate matter. This happens because 70% of heat production still comes from fossil fuels, compromising the health of European citizens and the feasibility of our climate targets.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! We don’t need to burn toxic sources to heat our cities. Cities can detox heat on a large scale by massively shifting towards cleaner, more modern, and sustainable heating systems.
To detox European cities' heating and cooling sector, start by understanding your city’s heat sources, demand, and alternatives through comprehensive mapping and planning, as Munich did. Next, adopt a full-city approach by expanding and renewing decarbonized district heating (DHC) systems, which is effective in dense urban areas, as seen in Silkeborg and Leuven. Finally, rejuvenate your heating system by integrating clean heat sources like geothermal, solar heat, and large-scale heat pumps, similar to Marseille’s innovative use of seawater and excess heat from various sources. These steps aim to shift towards cleaner, sustainable heating systems, improving air quality and energy security.