Faaborg-Midtfyn Kommune has launched an ambitious climate action plan designed to bring the municipality in line with both national and regional climate targets. With targets of a 70% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, the municipality follows the national targets, but together with the other Funen municipalities has set even sharper goals of climate neutrality as early as 2040 and an 80% reduction by 2030. The municipality's climate challenge is shaped by its character as a predominantly rural municipality, where two-thirds of its 42,000 hectares are cultivated land with extensive livestock production. In 2019, the municipality emitted 430,000 tonnes of CO2, a significant reduction from 800,000 tonnes in 1990 (pp. 12-13). Agriculture accounts for the largest share at 190,000 tonnes of CO2 (44%), followed by the energy sector at 120,000 tonnes and transport at 110,000 tonnes (pp. 12-13). This distinguishes the municipality significantly from more urban areas, as agriculture's dominant role creates particular challenges around livestock manure, lowland soils and methane emissions. The most effective measures focus on three main areas where the municipality has the largest reduction potentials. Within energy, a comprehensive conversion to district heating and heat pumps is planned, which can reduce emissions by 103,000 tonnes of CO2 annually through the transition from natural gas and oil (p. 29). At the same time, solar panels are to be installed on up to 1,000 hectares of land, corresponding to 2% of agricultural land, which can produce 50% more electricity than the municipality itself consumes (p. 23). Within agriculture, 90% of livestock manure is to be sent to biogas production, and 525 hectares of lowland soils are to be retired from cultivation, which together can save 26,600 tonnes of CO2 annually (p. 25). Despite the comprehensive measures, the plan honestly acknowledges that there will still be a shortfall of approximately 13,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction to reach the 2030 target, and a full 180,000 tonnes to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (p. 20). Agriculture and the transport sector in particular still face major challenges that require technological development and national solutions. For agriculture, there are not yet fully developed technologies to eliminate methane and nitrous oxide from livestock production, while the transport sector lacks solutions for aviation and heavy transport. The municipality recognises that the transition can only succeed through extensive cross-sector collaboration. An energy forum with utility companies and a partnership with agriculture on concrete projects such as expansion of the biogas plant at Heden and retirement of lowland soils have been established (p. 27). Citizens are involved through annual status reports, dialogue with local councils on district heating projects and guidance on energy renovations. At the same time, the municipality aims to brand itself as a modern, attractive community that can attract both new citizens and businesses through its position as a frontrunner in the green transition.

Source: Klimahandleplan (2022)