Vejle Kommune has set one of Denmark's most ambitious climate targets with net-zero emissions as early as 2045 and a 110% reduction in 2050 compared to 1990 levels. This tightened target reflects both the municipality's particular responsibility as one of the 25 designated risk areas for flooding and the residents' higher average income, which typically entails a larger climate footprint. With 673,000 tonnes of CO2e annually, corresponding to 5.5 tonnes per inhabitant, Vejle is on par with an average Dane, but the ambition is to go far ahead. Today, emissions come primarily from transport (45%), energy (28%) and agriculture (24%), while industry accounts for only 1% and waste for 2%. The relatively small industrial footprint distinguishes Vejle from many other municipalities, while the large transport share reflects the municipality's role as a transport hub in the Triangle Region. Agricultural land covers a full 63% of the municipality's area, making the sector's transition crucial for the targets. Vejle's particular challenge is its geographic location around Vejle Fjord and the river valleys, which makes the town especially vulnerable to flooding. The municipality already experiences more frequent and severe flooding than before, and therefore climate prevention and climate adaptation must be considered together. With the establishment of water delay on 9 hectares of agricultural land, 94,000 m3 of water can now be delayed to reduce flooding in the town. The most comprehensive planned measures focus on the energy transition with 10-15 new large wind turbines and an additional 150 ha of solar panels to achieve 100% local green electricity production in 2030. At the same time, all 3,000 ha of new forest are to be established by 2030, and all carbon-rich lowland soils are to be retired from cultivation. Together, these measures can reduce emissions by approximately 57,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. Afforestation alone can contribute 12,000 tonnes of reduction, while retirement of lowland soils yields a further 12,000 tonnes. Despite the ambitious plans, the municipality is still short approximately 50,000 tonnes of CO2e reduction to reach the 70% target in 2030, and a full 175,000 tonnes to become climate neutral in 2050. These gaps must be filled by national measures such as offshore wind farms, power-to-X technology and carbon capture and storage, which the municipality cannot directly influence. In particular, the transition of agriculture and transport depends on technological development and national frameworks. Residents and businesses are engaged through extensive partnerships, including climate partnerships with the agricultural sector since 2021 and agreements with the four largest housing associations. Grønt Forum facilitates citizens' projects, while RessourceCenter Vejle - Denmark's first container-free recycling centre - demonstrates new ways of managing resources. Through the citizens' assembly Samskabt Klimahandling and the Green Team think tank for schoolchildren, broad engagement across generations is ensured in the necessary transition.

Source: Klimaplan 2025-2050 (2025)