Aarhus Municipality faces a significant task with its Climate Plan 2025-2030, which sets the ambitious goal of making the entire municipality CO2e-neutral by 2030 for scope 1 and 2 emissions. As a member of the international C40 city network and participant in the EU's mission for 100 climate-neutral cities, Aarhus has committed to leading the green transition. The municipality has already halved its emissions since 1990, but the remaining half requires a marked acceleration of efforts. In 2022, Aarhus Municipality emitted a total of 1,451,000 tonnes of CO2e. The transport sector is by far the largest emitter at 47% of total emissions, followed by agriculture at 7%, industry at 5%, and waste and wastewater at 5%. This distribution reflects Aarhus' character as a major urban municipality where mobility and freight transport constitute the most pressing climate challenge. What makes Aarhus' climate situation unique is the combination of its size as Denmark's second-largest municipality and its coastal location with river valleys and low-lying areas. This geography makes the city particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, cloudbursts and rising groundwater. At the same time, the municipality houses large energy-producing facilities such as Lisbjergværket and Studstrupværket as well as Aarhus Port, all of which play a central role in the transition. Among the most impactful measures in the plan is the establishment of Carbon Capture and Storage at Lisbjergværket, where CO2 from straw and waste incineration will be captured and permanently stored. This project alone is expected to reduce emissions from the energy sector by 380,000 tonnes. Another flagship project is the Green Mobility Plan, which aims for significant electrification of transport and behavioural changes shifting from cars to cycling, walking and public transport. Additionally, the expansion of 1,600 hectares of solar panels and eight new large wind turbines is planned to secure local renewable energy production. Despite the comprehensive plans, challenges remain. The plan identifies a remaining gap of 5,000 tonnes not yet covered by concrete measures. In particular, consumption-based emissions in scope 3 represent a significant challenge, which the municipality addresses by setting a target of 50% reduction in the most significant consumption-based emissions by 2035. The climate plan is conceived as a dynamic document that is continuously adjusted as new knowledge and technological developments emerge. Citizen engagement plays a central role in Aarhus' climate strategy. Through Climate Living Labs, citizens are invited to experiment with climate-friendly solutions in everyday life, while food communities and training of kitchen staff in plant-based cooking aim to change food habits. The municipality is investing in a new Aarhus Model for citizen engagement, designed to ensure broad support for the green transition through dialogue and partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and civil society.

Source: Klimaplan 2025-2030 (2024)