Aalborg Municipality's climate strategy marks an ambitious transition from an industrial past to a sustainable future, with the goal of making a tangible green difference for future generations. As a participant in the international C40 city network and through the national DK2020 initiative, the municipality has committed to meeting the Paris Agreement standards (p. 1). This local effort is crucial, as Aalborg faces a particular challenge: per capita greenhouse gas emissions in North Jutland are nearly twice the national average, primarily due to the region's strong position in agriculture and heavy industry (p. 34). The current emissions profile in Aalborg is dominated by large, central actors. In 2018, the coal-based electricity and heat supply at Nordjyllandsværket accounted for approximately 980,000 tonnes (p. 11), while cement production at Aalborg Portland alone accounts for around 2.2 million tonnes per year (p. 23). This concentration of emissions means that the municipality's greenhouse gas accounts differ markedly from most other Danish municipalities. Looking at geographical emissions excluding heavy industry, agriculture and transport account for 31% and 26% respectively of the remaining gap towards 2030 (p. 8). What makes Aalborg's situation unique is the combination of a major urban municipality with through-traffic on the motorway across the Limfjord and large rural areas with carbon-rich lowland soils (p. 7). The geography around the fjord and the many river valleys also creates specific risks of flooding from seawater, groundwater and watercourses, requiring an integrated approach to both reduction and adaptation (p. 6). Aalborg stands out by having direct or co-ownership of key infrastructure hubs such as Port of Aalborg and Aalborg Airport, providing unique opportunities to promote the production of future green fuels (p. 3). Among the most impactful actions in the plan is the full phase-out of coal at Nordjyllandsværket by 2028, which is the single largest source of CO2 reduction in the energy supply (p. 12). Another flagship project is the investment in CO2 capture and Power-to-X, particularly at the waste incineration plant I/S Reno-Nord, where captured CO2 will be converted into green fuels (p. 2). Additionally, targeted efforts are underway to retire carbon-rich lowland agricultural soils, which are expected to reduce emissions by 230,000 tonnes (p. 19). Although the plan charts a path to 74% reduction by 2030, unresolved challenges remain, especially beyond 2030. Agriculture and heavy transport remain the hardest sectors to fully decarbonise (p. 2). There is an acknowledged gap regarding direct emissions from shipping, aviation and through-traffic on the E45 motorway, over which the municipality has limited direct influence and which require national measures or technological breakthroughs (p. 15). To achieve these goals, Aalborg Municipality places great emphasis on collaboration. Through "Klimaalliancen Aalborg" (the Aalborg Climate Alliance), binding partnerships are formed with local farmers, businesses and housing associations (p. 1). Citizens are actively engaged through the Youth Climate Council and digital platforms, as the municipality recognises that the green transition requires a collective "green mindset" across all parts of the local community (p. 1). It is a realistic yet ambitious journey towards climate neutrality in 2050, where the foundation is being laid now through concrete action and local ownership.

Source: Klimaplan for Aalborg Kommune (2022)