Odder Kommune has set an ambitious course toward climate neutrality by 2050 with its action plan for 2022-2026, with an important interim target of 70 percent CO2 emission reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. As a participant in the DK2020-Klimaplaner for hele Danmark partnership, the municipality commits to meeting the Paris Agreement targets and thereby contributing to limiting global warming. Odder Kommune's climate strategy is built on a thorough analysis of more than 150 proposals from citizens, businesses, and municipal employees, which have been refined into 11 concrete action areas across three overarching themes: reduce emissions, displace fossil fuels, and fix carbon. The plan acknowledges that the municipality as a geographic entity must take responsibility for emissions from all sectors, not just the municipality's own operations. A distinctive feature of Odder Kommune is the large agricultural area with lowland soils, which today contribute significant CO2 emissions due to drained organic soils. At the same time, the municipality's location on Horsens Fjord and its responsibility for the island connection to Tunø create special challenges and opportunities. The Tunø ferry alone contributes 395 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and represents a large share of the municipality's transport-related emissions. The most ambitious and climate-effective planned measures include rewetting of 189 hectares of carbon-rich lowland soils, which alone can reduce emissions by 5,800 tonnes of CO2 by 2050. In addition, the municipality is investing heavily in a biogas plant with capacity for 500,000 tonnes of biomass annually, which will later be expanded with Power-to-X technology for the production of green methanol. This project is expected to contribute 34,100 tonnes of CO2 savings by 2025 and a further 18,700 tonnes by 2030. As a third major initiative, the municipality prioritises the installation of solar panels on 188 hectares and new, large wind turbines equivalent to 140 TJ of annual production. The greatest challenge in the plan is that the municipality has not yet identified sufficient reductions to fully reach the 2030 target. While the plan describes concrete short-term actions toward 2025, there is still a lack of clarity on how all necessary reductions will be achieved before the decade is out. Particularly in the transport sector, where the municipality expects 25,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction by 2050, there is considerable uncertainty about how the transition to electric vehicles and green fuels will concretely be accelerated at the necessary pace. Odder Kommune places great emphasis on citizen engagement and local partnerships as the foundation for the green transition. In addition to the extensive consultations in 2021, the municipality plans ongoing information meetings about specific projects such as wind turbines, solar parks, and afforestation. The municipality will also establish a strong local climate community with citizens, businesses, and associations, while creating practical frameworks for sustainable behaviour through repair cafes, swap centres, and improved EV charging infrastructure. For businesses, the municipality offers energy and building advisory services and awareness campaigns about green profiles, which will support the necessary transition in private enterprises.

Source: Handleplan - En handlingsorienteret reduktionssti (2022)