Skive Kommune has been a frontrunner in the green transition for close to half a century, from the low-energy houses in Solhaven in the 1970s to today's position as one of the country's most climate-ambitious municipalities. With the climate action plan "Skive 2050", the municipality sets the ambitious goal of a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 - goals to be achieved through both technological innovation and citizen-driven action. In 2018, Skive Kommune emitted 630,000 tonnes of CO2e, a significant reduction from the baseline year of 1990. Agriculture dominates the emissions picture with a full 66% of emissions distributed across crop production (13%), livestock (29%), and land use (24%). Transport accounts for 23%, while the energy sector comprises only 8% - a result of decades of focus on renewable energy. This sector distribution sets Skive markedly apart from more urbanised municipalities and creates both challenges and opportunities. Skive Kommune's geographic location by Limfjorden with 190 km of coastline and 74% agricultural area gives the municipality a unique climate profile. Here, the challenges of an agriculture-dominated economy meet the risk of storm surges from the fjord, most recently experienced in January 2015 with a record water level of 188 cm. At the same time, the municipality's position as home to GreenLab Skive - Europe's first Power-to-X demonstration facility - has created a foundation for becoming a test centre for the green technologies of the future. The most transformative measures focus on agriculture's transition through retirement of 30% of carbon-rich lowland soils by 2030, which alone will reduce emissions by 24,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. In parallel, PtX industry is being established at GreenLab Skive for production of green fuels such as hydrogen and methanol, while 400 hectares of solar panels are to ensure self-sufficiency with renewable energy as early as 2029. These technological leaps are to be supported by concrete citizen-oriented measures such as 30% electric vehicles by 2030 and CO2-neutral public transport. Despite ambitious plans, the municipality openly acknowledges that there will be a 'shortfall' of approximately 33,000 tonnes of CO2e in 2050, primarily from livestock and transport. The challenges of near-surface groundwater and rising water levels require innovative climate adaptation solutions, where the BigBlue projects along Skive Å show the way by combining flood protection with urban development. The cross-municipal project to narrow Thyborøn Kanal illustrates that climate resilience requires cooperation across municipal boundaries. The citizens' role is central to the climate plan through the newly established climate committee with five citizen representatives and initiatives such as the RENT LIV fund, which supports local climate projects. A survey sent to 33,000 citizens has revealed strong support for the green transition, but also a need for concrete guidance. The business community is involved through Business Skive and the target of green business models at a minimum of 50 companies by 2030, which is to ensure that the green transition becomes a growth engine rather than a burden on the local economy.

Source: Klimahandlingsplan for Skiveegnen - Skive 2050 (2022)