Roskilde Kommune has set one of Denmark's most ambitious climate targets: to be CO2-neutral as a geographic area by 2040 - ten years ahead of the national target. This goal reflects the municipality's role as an innovative growth municipality with strong knowledge institutions such as DTU Risø and RUC, as well as a tradition of leading the green transition. Today, Roskilde Kommune emits 334,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to 3.7 tonnes per resident (p. 7). Emissions are distributed with energy and heating as the largest source (47% or 159,000 tonnes), followed by transport and mobility (35% or 118,000 tonnes), agriculture and land use (12% or 41,000 tonnes), and other sources (5% or 16,000 tonnes). This distribution places Roskilde as a typical commuter municipality, where residents' daily commute of an average 22.3 km creates significant challenges. Roskilde's climate challenge differs markedly from other Danish municipalities in several ways. As a major transport hub on Zealand with motorway and rail connections, the municipality is experiencing rising car ownership, especially after the COVID pandemic, making it difficult to bend the emissions curve in the transport sector. At the same time, the municipality contains nearly 600 hectares of lowland soils which, despite their modest area, account for 44% of agricultural emissions (p. 18). This particular soil type, which constantly releases CO2 when drained, requires targeted solutions through rewetting. The most extensive planned measures focus on three core areas. In energy, more than 150 MW of renewable energy production is to be established by 2030, combined with a massive rollout of district heating to over 7,000 households in collaboration with Fors. In the transport sector, the municipality was the first in the country to electrify all bus routes, and is now working to limit the growth in private car use by 5% in 2030 and 10% in 2040 through better public transport and cycling initiatives. In agriculture and land use, the goal is to retire 90% of lowland soils and establish 1,000 hectares of new forest by 2040. The municipality openly acknowledges several unresolved challenges. A crucial prerequisite for achieving the climate target is that Denmark's ambitious plans for CO2 capture (CCS) succeed, which will contribute a 'negative' emission of 53,000 tonnes in 2040 (p. 6). In the transport sector, the municipality is still struggling to reverse the trend, as car ownership continues to rise. Additionally, the plan introduces an entirely new focus area - scope 3 emissions from consumption - where the municipality still lacks precise measurement tools and calculation methods. To involve citizens and local stakeholders, Roskilde has conducted extensive engagement processes. A citizens' assembly of 36 residents developed 41 concrete recommendations for the transport sector, while conferences for energy and agriculture gathered over 60 professional stakeholders. The municipality's Climate Fund supports local initiatives such as Grønt Omstillingsforbund's 'Roskilde Spiser Grønt' campaign, and partnerships with local businesses through Corolab and Gate 21 ensure that the private sector is actively involved. With this combination of ambitious targets, concrete actions, and broad local engagement, Roskilde is on its way to becoming Denmark's first CO2-neutral municipality.

Source: Klimaplan 2024 (2024)