Københavns Kommune has set the ambitious goal of becoming the world's first CO2-neutral capital by 2025. This pioneering project is not merely a climate effort, but a strategic investment in positioning Copenhagen as a leader in green technology and sustainable urban development. The target was adopted unanimously by the City Council in 2009 and builds on the significant progress the city has already achieved. In 2011, Copenhagen emitted approximately 1.9 million tonnes of CO2, representing a 21 percent reduction since 2005 (p. 8). Energy consumption for building heating and electricity accounts for approximately 75 percent of total emissions, while transport contributes 22 percent (p. 28). This distribution makes Copenhagen different from many other Danish municipalities, as the city's dense development and extensive district heating network, covering 98 percent of heating needs, have already created a relatively efficient energy supply. Copenhagen's climate challenge is shaped by the city's role as a growing capital. Towards 2025, 110,000 new inhabitants and 20,000 new jobs are expected, meaning construction of 6.8 million square metres of new urban development (p. 10). At the same time, the city's size and position as the centre of the Oresund region provide unique opportunities to test green solutions at scale and export the experiences to other major cities globally. The most comprehensive measures are concentrated on energy production, which is to deliver 74 percent of the CO2 reduction, equivalent to 855,000 tonnes annually (p. 36). The plan's flagship project is the establishment of over 100 wind turbines both onshore and offshore with a total capacity of 360 MW. In parallel, district heating production is to be converted from coal to biomass, and new plants based on geothermal energy will be established. In transport, the aim is for 75 percent of all trips to be made on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport, supported by the so-called PLUSnet - an interconnected system of cycle superhighways. The plan's greatest challenge is that 70,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction are still missing to reach the CO2 neutrality target (p. 9). This shortfall is to be covered through further wind power expansion and new initiatives in buildings and transport that are not yet fully defined. Furthermore, several key initiatives depend on national decisions, including the government's congestion strategy and EU transport directives. Citizen engagement is a central part of the strategy. Copenhageners will have the opportunity to buy shares in wind turbines, and the municipality is actively working to motivate energy renovations, increased cycling, and better waste sorting. At the same time, the municipality's own operations will lead the way with a 40 percent reduction in energy consumption in municipal buildings and conversion of the entire municipal vehicle fleet to electricity, hydrogen, or biofuels. With a total municipal investment of DKK 2.7 billion towards 2025, Copenhagen sends a clear signal that the green transition is both necessary and economically viable in the long term.

Source: KBH 2025 Klimaplanen (2012)