Svendborg Kommune has adopted its first comprehensive climate action plan with an ambitious goal of becoming climate neutral and resilient to climate change by 2050 at the latest. With 179 kilometres of coastline and low-lying inhabited islands in Det Sydfynske Øhav, the municipality faces particular climate challenges requiring targeted solutions both to reduce emissions and adapt to future weather conditions. The municipality's total CO2 emissions have fallen significantly from 665,000 tonnes in 1990 to 340,000 tonnes in 2019 - a reduction of 49% (p. 11). Emissions are distributed with agriculture as the largest source at 32%, energy at 44%, transport at 19% and waste at 2% (p. 12). At 5.8 tonnes of CO2 per inhabitant, Svendborg is below the global average, but there is still a long way to the goal of climate neutrality. What makes Svendborg Kommune's climate challenge particularly complex is the combination of a dominant agricultural sector occupying 64% of the municipality's area and an extremely vulnerable coastal location. The sea is expected to rise by up to 56 cm towards the end of the century (p. 16), which particularly threatens Svendborg Harbour and the small islands such as Drejø, Skarø and Hjortø. At the same time, the municipality's own operations account for only 2% of total emissions (p. 7), underscoring the need for extensive cooperation with residents and businesses. The most ambitious planned measures focus on energy transition and climate adaptation. The municipality plans to establish three 150-metre wind turbines and 84 hectares of solar panels, which together are to cover 52% of the expected electricity consumption in 2030 (p. 27). Meanwhile, the flagship project Den Blå Kant is to climate-proof Svendborg Harbour against storm surges and cloudbursts while creating new recreational areas and protecting the maritime cultural heritage. Additionally, 540 hectares of new forest is being established east of Svendborg in cooperation with Naturstyrelsen and Svendborg Vand. The greatest challenge, however, is agricultural emissions, over which the municipality has limited influence. Even with all planned measures, there will be a shortfall of approximately 129,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2050, of which 98,000 tonnes originate from agriculture (p. 14). Here the municipality relies on partnership agreements with the agricultural industry and hopes for technological breakthroughs in areas such as biochar and pyrolysis technology. To involve residents and businesses, the municipality continues its cooperation with GO2Green on the annual climate week and has provided grants for nearly 500 energy audits of private homes (p. 11). Through dialogue meetings with farmers and themed meetings via Industrien Sydfyn, targeted work is being done with different business groups. The municipality acknowledges that the climate goals can only be reached through a joint effort where all stakeholders contribute to the green transition in the South Funen archipelago.

Source: Klimahandleplan 2022 (2022)