Lemvig Kommune has adopted an ambitious climate action plan aimed at achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050 at the latest. As one of the first 20 municipalities in the DK2020 project, Lemvig has committed to supporting the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees. The plan was adopted by the municipal council on 24 March 2021 and subsequently approved by the international city network C40 and the think tank CONCITO (p. 1). Lemvig Kommune faces a particular climate challenge as a pronounced production municipality. In 2018, the municipality emitted 492,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, a significant reduction from 689,000 tonnes in 1990 (p. 3). Agriculture and land use account for a full 63% of emissions at 310,000 tonnes, while industry contributes 21% equivalent to 101,000 tonnes. Transport accounts for 14% and the supply sector only 1.4%, as electricity and heat production have already been converted to green energy (p. 4). What makes Lemvig Kommune's climate challenge unique is the combination of large-scale agricultural production, heavy industry, and a very climate-exposed geographic location between the North Sea and the Limfjord. The municipality produces far more goods than the population itself consumes, resulting in high per capita emissions compared to other Danish municipalities. At the same time, the municipality already has a very large production of green energy from wind turbines, producing approximately twice as much electricity as the municipality itself consumes (p. 4). The most significant planned measures focus on three core areas. In transport, the focus is on electrification of passenger cars and conversion to Power-to-X technologies for heavy transport, which is expected to reduce emissions by 53,700 tonnes by 2050 (p. 5). Industry is to be made more energy-efficient and converted to green energy with a planned reduction of 50,900 tonnes, with the municipality entering partnerships with the two large industrial companies. Agriculture and land use are expected to contribute the largest reduction of 223,500 tonnes through afforestation of 1,250 hectares, gasification of livestock manure, and conversion of 11,280 hectares from grain to grass production (p. 8-9). The plan honestly acknowledges that there will be a significant shortfall of 86,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2050, primarily from agriculture and land use, which cannot be eliminated with current technology. This shortfall is to be compensated through CO2 capture, expected to be established at large concentrated sources elsewhere in Denmark (p. 10). Additionally, the municipality faces massive climate adaptation challenges with investments exceeding DKK 3 billion by 2028, including the critical narrowing of Thyboron Channel to protect the western Limfjord (p. 13-14). Citizen engagement is a central part of the strategy through partnerships with local actors such as Lemvigegnens Landboforening and the large industrial companies. In the school sector, the project 'Climate, Technology and Us' is being implemented with support from the A.P. Moller Foundation, while Lemvig Gymnasium is training the first climate students. Klimatorium serves as a platform for citizen engagement through annual climate meetings, including special children's meetings with participation of over 4,000 children from across the country (p. 24). The municipality is committed to ensuring that the green transition not only reduces emissions but also creates new jobs and settlement opportunities through innovative projects such as the climate parks and the growing offshore industry in Thyboron.

Source: DK2020-Klimahandlingsplan (2021)