Stevns Kommune has set ambitious goals to become CO2-neutral by 2050 at the latest while also making the municipality resilient to climate change. With its 43-kilometre coastline facing Øresund and Stevns Klint as a prominent geographic feature, the municipality faces both great opportunities and particular challenges in the green transition. Today, Stevns Kommune emits 146,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually, corresponding to approximately 6 tonnes per inhabitant (p. 14). Emissions are primarily distributed across the energy sector at 38 percent, transport at 31 percent, and agricultural production at 26 percent (p. 14). This distribution reflects the municipality's character as a rural community, where 75 percent of the area is used for agriculture or horticulture - significantly more than the national average of 61 percent. Stevns stands out from many other Danish municipalities through its particular combination of challenges. The municipality has only 10 percent forest cover compared to a national average of 16 percent, and many residents commute daily to the capital region, creating high transport emissions. At the same time, the long coastline offers particular opportunities for renewable energy, but also increased vulnerability to future climate change with an expected sea level rise of 95 centimetres by 2120 (p. 19). The most comprehensive measures focus on energy transition and climate adaptation. The municipality is establishing district heating in the three largest towns through the newly founded Stevns Energi A/S and is working towards 500 hectares of new afforestation by 2050, including the new 9-hectare Klippinge Climate Forest (p. 43). Particularly ambitious is the project to convert Tryggevælde Ådal to wet meadow, which can significantly reduce emissions from the peat-rich soils. The greatest challenge, however, is the shortfall of 78,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents that the municipality still needs to find solutions for in order to reach the goal of climate neutrality in 2050 (p. 27). The transport and agriculture sectors are the largest contributors to this shortfall, and the municipality's direct influence over these is limited. Østbanen is to be electrified by 2030 at the latest, but private car traffic and heavier vehicles require national solutions. Residents are engaged through a task committee for sustainable housing and climate ambassador programmes, while local businesses are supported in installing solar panels on large rooftops. The municipality honestly acknowledges that many of the necessary changes depend on residents and businesses taking initiative themselves - the municipality can facilitate and inspire, but cannot mandate the green transition in the private sphere. With its realistic approach to both opportunities and limitations, Stevns Kommune is laying the groundwork for an ambitious yet feasible path towards climate neutrality.

Source: Klimaplan - Klimaneutralitet og Klimarobusthed (2023)