The three winners stood out for their exceptional heat decarbonisation strategies, serving as inspiration for other cities and towns across Europe.
Heating and cooling of buildings in the EU accounts for 80% of household energy use and emits 567 million tonnes of CO2 annually, with more than two thirds of building heating still reliant on fossil fuels. Cities and towns are stepping up to lead Europe’s clean heat transition, playing a critical role in reducing emissions, improving air quality, and increasing energy security.
To spotlight local achievements in heat decarbonisation, the 2025 EU Covenant of Mayors Award was granted this year to three Covenant signatories who stood out for their accomplishments and vision in the heat transition: Mechelen (Belgium), Laapeenranta (Finland), and Domokos (Greece).
This year’s Covenant Award was related to its Cities Heat Detox campaign, spotlighting cities’ efforts to cleanse their heating systems across Europe. Decarbonising heating is a complex challenge for local governments, requiring the involvement of many people and entities, while having far-reaching impacts on society, communities, and the economy.