Silkeborg Kommune has set an ambitious course toward CO2 neutrality by 2045 - five years ahead of the national target. As one of 95 municipalities in the DK2020 collaboration, the municipality has committed to meeting the Paris Agreement's targets, but with a local ambition that goes further than most other Danish municipalities. This early target reflects both the municipality's already-initiated green transition and the recognition that climate change demands action now. In 2020, Silkeborg Kommune emitted a total of 783,900 tonnes of CO2, representing a 30 percent reduction since 1990. This corresponds to 8.3 tonnes of CO2 per inhabitant, which must be reduced to 3.3 tonnes by 2030. Emissions are distributed with the energy sector as the largest contributor at 29 percent, followed by transport at 27 percent and agriculture at 23 percent. The remaining emissions come from industry, waste, and wastewater. Silkeborg Kommune's climate challenge is particularly shaped by the geography around Gudenåen and the extensive agricultural sector. The municipality has already invested in the world's largest solar heating plant and developed an ambitious comprehensive plan for Gudenåen across neighbouring municipalities. But the very presence of the river also creates unique climate adaptation challenges with increasing risk of flooding and problems with near-surface groundwater, especially in the northern part of the municipality. The most extensive reductions are to occur within the energy sector, where the municipality plans to reduce emissions by approximately 250,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2030. This involves a massive expansion of the district heating network, phase-out of gas in heating production, and establishment of significantly more local renewable energy such as solar panels, wind turbines, and biogas. At the same time, agriculture is to contribute 115,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction through utilisation of manure potential for biogas and new cooperation agreements with the agricultural sector. Despite the ambitious plans, the municipality still needs to identify solutions for an additional 475,000 tonnes of CO2 to achieve a 75 percent reduction by 2030. The transport sector in particular, which is expected to account for half of all emissions in 2030, requires both technological breakthroughs and behavioural changes that the municipality can only partially influence. The agricultural sector also remains challenging, as many solutions depend on national agreements and technological development. To engage citizens and businesses, Silkeborg Kommune has established a climate action committee that is developing a citizens' climate plan focusing on energy and housing, transport, and food. Through initiatives such as the recycling festival 'Skraldival' and upcoming cooperation agreements with the agricultural sector, the municipality seeks to create broad local ownership of the climate effort. At the same time, the municipality leads by example as an organisation with the goal of CO2 neutrality by 2025 through replacement of 250 vehicles with electric ones and comprehensive energy optimisations.

Source: Klimaplan 2045 (2023)