A new campaign is mobilising cities to combat extreme heat

Climate risks are a critical threat to Europeans’ wellbeing and quality of life. Amongst these, 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 20 years, with last year marking record-high temperatures. As global temperatures continue to rise, heat waves are becoming more frequent and more 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, and without urgent action, heat-related fatalities will continue to rise, as outlined in the latest EU Climate Risk Assessment. In urban areas, the danger is more acute, 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 town must undergo transformative change – not only to cope with extreme heat, but also to revitalise and reinvent city life in a warming world. 

For this purpose, the Covenant of Mayors launched its new campaign, Cities Refresh, to inspire cites to take bold action against extreme heat. 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 by redefining the way 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. 

The Covenant of Mayors’ Cities Refresh Campaign will inspire by spotlighting concrete examples from 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. 

Is your city taking action against extreme heat? Join the campaign! By sharing your initiatives on the interactive map, you can inspire others and showcase how cities are tackling climate risks head-on. 

Follow the Campaign on its website an social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, X) to keep up with the latest updates.