Climate risks are a critical threat to Europeans’ well-being and quality of life. Extreme heat stands out as one of the most pressing dangers we face today. Nine of the ten hottest years on record have occurred in the past twenty years, with last year marking record-high temperatures. As global temperatures continue to rise, heat waves become more frequent and intense, putting countless lives at risk.
In Europe, heat stress is now the leading cause of climate-related deaths, claiming around 48,000 lives in 2023. The continent is warming twice as fast as the global average. Without urgent action, heat-related fatalities will continue to rise, as outlined in the latest EU Climate Risk Assessment. The danger is more acute in urban areas, where the urban heat-island effect can drive temperatures 10 to 15°C higher than nearby rural areas, according to the JRC’s latest report on EU cities and extreme heat. To protect residents and ensure cities remain liveable, our cities and towns must undergo transformative change – not only to cope with extreme heat but also to revitalise and reinvent city life in a warming world.
Cities Hit Refresh: a movement to renew our cities in the face of heat
At the Climate Chance Europe Africa 2025 Summit in Marseille, France, themed “Adaptation: taking action", the Covenant of Mayors launched its new campaign, Cities Refresh, to inspire cities to take bold action against extreme heat. The Smart Cities Marketplace is an official partner supporting the Cities Hit Refresh Campaign. The Campaign is a call to action for all cities to see rising temperatures as an opportunity to hit refresh – to start anew for a cooler future. Local governments can safeguard quality of life by reinventing streets and public spaces and redefining how we build and design our cities. They can integrate more trees, water and shade to make urban spaces fresher; promote heat-resilient infrastructure; build on community networks to ensure a safe environment for all; plan for heat hazards and set up early warning systems; set up effective response mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable; and raise public awareness around risks while encouraging heat-safe behaviour. “Extreme heat is one of the biggest climate risks to public health today, also threatening social equity and economic wellbeing. Local governments are on the front line – managing the health crises heat waves create while implementing solutions to protect residents and keep cities vibrant in a warming world. The Covenant of Mayors’ new Cities Refresh campaign is a great opportunity to highlight the crucial work being done by cities across Europe and inspire even more action.” – – Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth.
Mobilising cities to lead the way
Many cities are already pioneering diverse solutions to stay safe, liveable, and dynamic in a warming world. The Covenant of Mayors’ Cities Refresh Campaign will inspire by spotlighting concrete examples. From major Mediterranean cities like Marseille (France), Athens (Greece), and Valencia (Spain) to smaller cities like Weiz (Austria) and Worms (Germany), as well as northern frontrunners like Antwerp (Belgium) and Rotterdam (Netherlands) – pioneer cities of all shapes and sizes will showcase their cooling efforts via the Campaign, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
With over 11,000 signatory cities and towns, the Covenant of Mayors aims to use the Cities Refresh Campaign to mobilise its vast and diverse community to raise awareness, exchange experiences, build capacity and empower local governments to tackle extreme heat. Press Release: Launch of Cities Refresh Campaign The integrated approach of the Covenant of Mayors initiative helps cities address resilience, climate neutrality, and energy poverty within one single action plan. By addressing extreme heat through this lens, cities can rethink their urban spaces while protecting communities and building a cooler, more resilient, carbon-neutral future.
Join the movement! Is your city taking action against extreme heat? Join the campaign! By sharing your initiatives on our interactive map, you can inspire others and showcase how cities tackle climate risks head-on.