With its "Ærø Climate Plan 2022", Ærø Municipality has set an ambitious course that not only aims to follow national targets but actively seeks to surpass them to ensure the island's survival and vitality. As an island community, Ærø is in a unique position where climate change is not a distant threat but a direct challenge to daily mobility and safety. The ambition is clear: Ærø aims to be climate neutral by 2040, a full ten years ahead of the national target (p. 5, 14). This forward-looking attitude stems from a long tradition of innovation that began with the country's first wind farm in 1985 and today means the island is self-sufficient in electricity on an annual basis (p. 2, 21). Looking at the actual figures for the island's emissions, it is clear where the task lies. In 2020, Ærø emitted 48,875 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to 8.2 tonnes per capita (p. 13). The distribution of these emissions differs markedly from many other municipalities. Agriculture is the largest contributor, accounting for a full 50% of total emissions at 24,209 tonnes (p. 13). This is followed by the transport sector at 39% (19,130 tonnes), while the energy sector today accounts for only 11% (5,302 tonnes) thanks to years of investment in renewable sources (p. 13). This sector composition makes Ærø's challenge distinct; as an agriculture-dominated island with a critical dependence on ferry transport, there are limited levers the municipality has direct control over. The most striking characteristic of Ærø is precisely the "island challenge". Everything consumed must be shipped to the island, and ferries alone account for 58% of the transport sector's emissions (p. 28, 30). To address this, one of the most effective measures is the continued electrification of ferry services. The award-winning electric ferry Ellen has already paved the way, and the plan requires that 50% of municipal ferries be fossil-free by 2025, rising to 100% by 2035 (p. 8, 26). Another key measure is the goal of monthly self-sufficiency in renewable energy by 2030, which requires new storage solutions to cover periods when the wind is not blowing (p. 21, 24). Despite the impressive goals, the plan does not hide the significant challenges and gaps. A calculated shortfall of 28,349 tonnes of CO2e remains in 2040 that current measurable initiatives cannot eliminate (p. 14, 15). This is primarily due to heavy transport and agriculture, where technology is either not yet mature or regulation lies at the national and European level (p. 15, 30). Furthermore, climate adaptation is an unavoidable necessity; small islands like Birkholm are extremely vulnerable to storm surges, and with a water level rise of 2.2 metres, houses there would be submerged (p. 18, 41). To close the gap and secure local support, Ærø Municipality is placing strong emphasis on partnerships. Through climate partnership agreements with local businesses and close dialogue with citizens — who were engaged at a major climate citizens' meeting in 2021 with 100 participants — the plan is to be made a project for the entire island (p. 6). It is a realistic acknowledgement that the municipality as an organisation can only do part of the work, and that the green transition requires a collective behavioural change among all residents of Ærø.

Source: Ærøs Klimaplan 2022 (2022)