Morsø Kommune has set itself an ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest, where no more greenhouse gases are to be emitted than are absorbed on the island. As a stepping stone, emissions are to be reduced by at least 70 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels (p. 3). For this island municipality with nearly 20,000 inhabitants, climate action is not just an environmental necessity but also an economic opportunity to retain and develop local jobs in the green transition. Today, Mors emits approximately 264,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually, a significant decline from 504,000 tonnes in 1990 (p. 14). This means the municipality has already reduced its emissions by 48 percent, primarily thanks to the conversion of the energy sector to renewable energy. But the distribution of the remaining emissions clearly shows what makes Mors' climate challenge particularly complex: a full 58 percent originates from agriculture, especially livestock, while transport accounts for 22 percent and the energy sector only 1 percent (p. 6-7). What truly distinguishes Mors from other Danish municipalities is the extreme agricultural intensity. With 78 percent of the area used for agriculture, Mors is among Denmark's most agriculture-intensive municipalities (p. 31). Even more remarkably, 98 percent of agriculture's climate emissions originate from the cultivation of carbon-rich organic lowland soils, which constitute only 4 percent of the total agricultural area (p. 32). This particular geological challenge makes Mors' climate effort fundamentally different from municipalities with ordinary mineral soils. The three most comprehensive planned measures reflect the island's particular circumstances. First, the district heating network is to be significantly expanded, and the heat supply must be CO2-neutral by 2030, which can save 9,400 tonnes of CO2 equivalents (p. 20). Second, 8 percent of the carbon-rich lowland soils are to be retired from cultivation, and the forest area is to be doubled, which together can reduce emissions by 9,700 tonnes (p. 30). Third, manure utilisation for biogas is to be increased to 97 percent combined with capture of CO2 from biogas plants, which can save up to 51,200 tonnes of CO2 equivalents by 2050 (p. 37). The plan's greatest challenge is that it does not fully show how the 70 percent reduction target for 2030 is to be achieved. While the plan contains many concrete measures, the municipality honestly acknowledges that it 'requires strong, cross-sectoral collaboration and support from research and technological development' (p. 3). Particularly within the agricultural sector, the municipality depends on new technologies such as methane-reducing feed and precision agriculture being developed and implemented faster than expected. To involve citizens and the business community, the municipality has established Morsø Klimaråd with representatives from utility companies, transport, agriculture and other production enterprises (p. 4). All children and young people on Mors are to undergo climate education through the new project 'Ophav Limfjorden - Learning at the fjord's edge' (p. 58), and climate audits are offered to farms. As Denmark's Shellfish Capital, the municipality is also working to promote climate-friendly food culture based on Limfjord shellfish, which are among the most climate-friendly foods of all (p. 59). Mors' approach shows how a small municipality can use its particular local resources and challenges as a springboard for an ambitious yet realistic climate effort.

Source: Forslag til Klimahandlingsplan 2023 (2023)