Tårnby Kommune has set one of Denmark's most ambitious climate targets with the plan's adoption as part of the international DK2020 project. The municipality commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent as early as 2027 - three years ahead of the national target - and by 85 percent in 2030, before becoming climate neutral by 2050 at the latest. This aggressive timeline reflects Mayor Allan S. Andersen's declared ambition that Tårnby shall be more than self-evident in the fight against climate change. The municipality's climate challenge is markedly different from most other Danish municipalities due to Copenhagen Airport, which alone accounts for 42 percent of the municipality's total electricity consumption (p. 8). With total emissions of 203,776 tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2018, corresponding to 4.73 tonnes per inhabitant (p. 19), emissions are distributed across the energy sector at 73 percent, transport at 19 percent and other sectors at 8 percent (p. 20). This profile, dominated by a single large commercial actor, requires a particular approach to climate planning. Tårnby Kommune's geographic location on the low-lying Amager Peninsula creates additional complexity, as large parts of the municipality lie below normal sea level and have previously been hit by severe storm surge events in 1872, 1902 and 1904 (p. 16). At the same time, the proximity to Copenhagen and the intensive commuter traffic make the transport sector a significant challenge. The municipality has a net in-commuting of 5,331 people daily (p. 17), underscoring the need for ambitious transport solutions. The most decisive measures focus on energy transition through Tårnby Forsyning's expansion of the district heating network, where the goal is to connect as many residents and businesses as possible by 2030. The municipality's green energy plant, commissioned in 2020, represents a technological breakthrough as the smartest facility of its kind in the world, combining wastewater energy with district cooling and district heating (p. 7). On the transport side, the target is that at least 30 percent of all passenger cars run on electric by 2030, while all scheduled buses are to be electrified (p. 11). The climate plan honestly acknowledges that there will be a shortfall of 17,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2050 (p. 28), corresponding to four percent of current emissions. The municipality is counting on technological development, changes in legislation and projects such as Carbon Capture Utility Storage at Amager Bakke to close this gap. In particular, the airport's continued operations and heavy transport represent the greatest challenges for full climate neutrality. Citizen and business engagement takes place through a structured participation ladder spanning from information to co-ownership of projects (p. 6). The municipality has a tradition of extensive public meetings and plans annual climate weeks as well as cooperation with local business networks on the green transition. With a planned business network focused on sustainable development by 2022 (p. 12) and continued partnerships with major actors such as Sund & Bælt on coastal protection, the climate plan builds on a broad societal alliance that acknowledges both the unique opportunities and challenges created by Tårnby Kommune's particular geography and business structure.

Source: Klimaplan - Vejen mod 2050 (2022)