Kolding Kommune has set an ambitious course towards becoming CO2-neutral by 2050 at the latest, with an intermediate goal of 70 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The municipality's climate action is anchored in the Realdania project DK2020 and the Paris Agreement, underscoring the international perspective on local climate action. With its strategic location around Kolding Fjord and as an important junction on the E45 motorway, the municipality faces particular challenges that require tailored solutions. In 2019, Kolding Kommune emitted a total of 837,000 tonnes of CO2e, a significant reduction from the 1990 baseline of 1,430,000 tonnes (p. 10). The energy sector accounts for the largest share at 39 percent, followed by transport at 33 percent and agriculture at 25 percent (p. 11). This sector distribution reflects the municipality's industrial character with many manufacturing companies, the intensive through-traffic on the E45, and a significant agricultural area with particular challenges from carbon-rich soils. Kolding's geographic characteristics create both opportunities and challenges for climate action. The municipality's 50-kilometre coastline and location at the bottom of Kolding Fjord make it vulnerable to rising water levels and extreme rainfall. At the same time, the close connection to the TVIS district heating network and the Energnist waste incineration plant provides a solid platform for the green energy transition. The intensive truck traffic through the municipality, with an average daily traffic of 76,700 vehicles on the E45, poses a particular transport challenge (p. 25). The most significant planned measures span all sectors. In energy, renewable energy plants equivalent to 50 percent of electricity consumption are to be established by 2030, combined with phase-out of natural gas and establishment of a biogas plant (p. 20). The transport sector is to be transformed through a charging station strategy with approximately 100 charging stations before 2025, conversion of city buses to electric, and an ambitious traffic shift where 102,000 car trips are to be moved to more sustainable modes of transport (pp. 26-27). Agriculture contributes through retirement of carbon-rich soils, increased supply of manure to biogas, and afforestation of 726 hectares by 2030 (pp. 32-35). Despite the comprehensive measures, the municipality openly acknowledges that there are still significant gaps in the climate plan. Power-to-X technology and CO2 capture will be crucial for achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050, but these technologies are not yet fully market-ready (p. 21). Heavy traffic remains a particular challenge, as electrification of trucks and aircraft is not yet technically or economically feasible to the necessary extent. The role of citizens and businesses is central to the climate plan. The municipality has established a sustainability house in the centre of the pedestrian street as an informal meeting place for inspiration and engagement, and collaboration with Business Kolding on a CO2 club for member businesses shows the way for the business community (pp. 14-15). The concrete climate adaptation projects in the city's risk areas are carried out with extensive citizen engagement, creating both local anchoring and ensuring that solutions fit the needs of local communities.

Source: Klimahandleplan 2022-2050 (2022)