North Korea's Rodong Sinmun recently highlighted Reykjavik as a zero-carbon city, pointing to its geothermal district heating system. The system, which started in 1928, uses hot springs to supply heat to public buildings and homes, with storage tanks and pipelines delivering hot water on demand. Excess heat from power generation is reused, and some industrial facilities and greenhouses also benefit from this energy source. The report explains that the name Reykjavik means smoking hole, referencing the steam from geothermal springs that early settlers saw. This is a practical example of how local renewable resources can replace fossil fuels for heating, which is a major part of energy consumption. The article is notable because it comes from North Korean media, showing cross-border interest in decarbonization approaches. For anyone tracking zero-carbon strategies, the key takeaway is the long-term investment in infrastructure. Reykjavik didn't become a zero-carbon city overnight; it took decades of steady expansion. That's a useful lesson for other cities looking to reduce emissions, even if their geological conditions differ.
