Sorø Kommune has set the ambitious goal of becoming CO2-neutral by 2050 while also reducing emissions by 70 percent as early as 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This climate action plan has been developed as part of the DK2020 partnership and represents one of the most comprehensive municipal climate efforts on Zealand. For an agricultural municipality in the middle of Zealand with 29,600 inhabitants, the climate challenge is both complex and pressing. In 2018, Sorø Kommune emitted a total of 319,094 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 10.76 tonnes per inhabitant - significantly above the national average of 8.3 tonnes (p. 10). The emissions distribution reflects the municipality's character as an agricultural municipality: agriculture accounts for a full 42.9 percent of emissions, transport for 26.2 percent, and energy for 28.8 percent (p. 10). In addition, there are emissions from 17 kilometres of the E20 motorway running through the municipality, contributing significant through-going traffic. Sorø Kommune differs markedly from other Danish municipalities through its extensive lowland soils - a full 2,200 hectares of carbon-rich soils that alone account for 80,307 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to 25 percent of the municipality's total emissions (p. 44). These organic soils, primarily around Åmosen and along the river valleys, release stored carbon when cultivated and ploughed. At the same time, an aviation navigation system between Slaglille and Fjenneslev limits wind turbine placement opportunities, as 80 percent of the municipality lies within a 15-kilometre exclusion zone. The most significant climate measures are concentrated on retirement of lowland soils, which can reduce emissions by 80,307 tonnes of CO2 by 2050, afforestation to increase the forest area from 16.8 to 25 percent of the municipality's area, and rollout of district heating based on the new bioenergy plant that uses branch and park waste from the AffaldPlus municipalities (pp. 40-47). In the transport sector, the focus is on a comprehensive charging station strategy and conversion of the municipal vehicle fleet, while solar panel installations in Sorø/Mørup are to contribute to green electricity production by 2030. Despite these ambitious measures, the plan honestly acknowledges that there will still be a shortfall of 13,241 tonnes of CO2 reduction in 2030 and a full 56,128 tonnes in 2050 to reach the goal of climate neutrality (p. 12). This 'shortfall' reflects the fact that the municipality directly controls only about 5 percent of total emissions, while the rest depends on national frameworks, EU legislation, technological development, and private actors' investments. In particular, retirement of lowland soils requires new financing models and multifunctional land consolidation, as individual farmers need economic compensation. Citizen and business engagement builds on concrete partnerships with Sorø Erhverv Bæredygtighedspanel, climate education in all primary schools through the Den Grønne Rygrad programme, and the cross-municipal Åmosen project, which already demonstrates how lowland soils can be transformed into a nature park with both climate benefits and tourism potential. The plan acknowledges that the green transition only succeeds through the greater 'We' - a broad collaboration between municipality, citizens, agriculture, and business to create a climate-neutral future.

Source: Klimahandleplan for Sorø Kommune (2022)