DK2020: 46 municipalities have joined in - will be drawing up local climate plans according to international standards.
From Ballerup and Viborg to Odense and Hjørring. The 46 new municipalities which will boost local climate efforts have now been named. Through the ’DK2020 – Climate plans for all of Denmark’ project they will all develop climate action plans that live up to the Paris Agreement. The parties behind the project - Realdania, Local Government Denmark and the five Danish regions - describe the level of interest as overwhelming.
The 46 municipalities, which include Hvidovre, Skive, Haderslev and Aalborg, will be working to the same standard for climate planning used by some of the world's largest and most ambitious cities in the international cities network: C40. This means that the Danish municipalities will be writing climate history.
Last September, the parties behind the project - Realdania, Local Government Denmark and the five Danish regions – unveiled a new, major climate partnership called DK2020 - climate plans for all of Denmark. All Danish municipalities were invited to develop climate action plans with a level of ambition matching the Paris Agreement. Since then, 46 municipalities from all over Denmark have reported that they are ready in the first of two calls for applications.
"When applications for the project began to trickle in from municipalities throughout Denmark, we saw a clear indication of the enormous commitment and desire to take the lead in local climate initiatives. It’s incredible to see how this really is close to the heart of so many municipalities and people. Real contributions to reaching the goal of climate-neutrality in 2050 start in everyday life in local communities. On the part of the municipalities, we look forward to close collaboration with all the local forces - citizens, the business community and civil society - and I’m looking forward to following developments in new local climate action plans, as well as the interesting projects springing up all over Denmark,” said Jacob Bundsgaard, chairman of Local Government Denmark.
Important climate partnership between municipalities and regions
During their work on their climate action plans, the 46 municipalities will draw on professional advice and consultancy from five newly established regional organisations - one in each region. Specialist staff from the municipal contact councils under Local Government Denmark, from the five Danish regions, and from relevant local operators will provide advice and consultancy for the new municipalities in DK2020 and facilitate their work to develop climate plans.
"DK2020 is an important climate partnership between municipalities and regions, which will boost the green transition in Denmark and reduce our climate footprint. We look forward to working closely with municipalities in the new fora, in which we will also build on existing collaboration that has generated positive results, for example within climate change adaptation. In the regions, we’re ready to bring our knowledge and experience into play, so that all municipalities can develop ambitious, but realistic climate action plans. With Realdania and CONCITO as partners, we have a strong basis for translating the overall goal to local and regional action,” said Stephanie Lose, chairman of Danish Regions.
Climate plans to identify specific initiatives
An important element in the climate action plans drawn up by the municipalities in DK2020 is that all significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions must be managed. These include, transport, agriculture, energy, buildings, urban development and the municipality's own vehicles and properties. In their climate action plan, each municipality is to identify specific climate initiatives that together will ensure net zero emissions by 2050 for the whole geographical area of the municipality. In addition, before the plan is finally approved by the C40 international cities network, the climate action plan will have to contain specific suggestions for how the municipality will adapt to climate change.
"The consequences of climate change are already very clear for Danish municipalities and regions. And many of the specific challenges can be resolved locally and regionally. Therefore, Danish municipalities and regions have a key role in the climate struggle. In DK2020 they are working closely together, and I’m in no doubt that this unique collaboration will write history. It will inspire climate players both in Denmark and abroad, where the members of the C40 cities network behind DK2020 are looking in earnest towards climate work by the Danish municipalities,“ said Jesper Nygård, CEO of Realdania.
During the project, the (46) municipalities will be able to discuss with each other, and with the 20 pilot municipalities, which, since 2019, have been preparing climate action plans to the same standards with funding from Realdania. Samsø, Sønderborg and Roskilde have already finished their plans. These municipalities will now start implementing their climate action plans through specific policies and projects.
The 46 new municipalities in ‘DK2020 - climate action plans for all of Denmark’
Ballerup, Brøndby, Esbjerg, Favrskov, Faxe, Fredensborg, Furesø, Fåborg-Midtfyn, Gentofte, Gladsaxe, Guldborgsund, Haderslev, Hedensted, Herlev, Herning, Hjørring, Holbæk, Horsens, Hvidovre, Kerteminde, Kolding, Langeland, Lyngby-Taarbæk, Nordfyn, Nyborg, Odder, Odense, Odsherred, Ringkøbing-Skjern, Rudersdal, Rødovre, Skive, Slagelse, Sorø, Struer, Svendborg, Syddjurs, Tårnby, Varde, Vejen, Vesthimmerland, Viborg, Vordingborg, Ærø, Aabenraa and Aalborg.
Facts: More about DK2020 - climate action plans for all of Denmark
Up to 21 October 2020, all Danish municipalities could apply to join DK2020 - climate action plans for all of Denmark. (46) municipalities have applied to be part of the first round and now they are developing their local climate action plans. A new call for applications will open in 2021.
Realdania, Local Government Denmark and Danish Regions have each contributed DKK 15 million to DK2020 - climate action plans for all of Denmark, and this makes it possible to invite all Danish municipalities to join the project in two rounds.
The tasks of providing advice to municipalities joining DK2020, and of facilitating their work on developing climate action plans, are being organised in collaboration between the five regions and the municipal contact councils (Kommunekontaktråd, KKR) under Local Government Denmark. The Danish green think tank, CONCITO, is the overall project secretariat and knowledge partner for the project.
The municipal contact councils (KKR) are a collaboration between the municipal councils in each of the five Danish regions, and they safeguard the interests of the municipalities.
Facts: About DK2020 - the first 20 municipalities
In 2019, Realdania set up the DK2020 project, through which 20 Danish pilot municipalities undergo a programme that supports the municipalities in developing, upgrading or adjusting their existing work on climate action to global best practice, and ultimately developing climate action plans in line with the 1.5°C goal in the Paris Agreement.
The municipal climate action plans will include instructions on how the municipalities can become climate-neutral by no later than 2050 and set ambitious sub-goals for greenhouse-gas reductions. Throughout the process, the 20 municipalities have received technical support and advice from Danish and international experts from C40 and the CONCITO, the Danish green think-tank, so that the plans live up to the C40 standard for climate action planning.
The first 20 municipalities in DK2020 were Albertslund, Allerød, Assens, Fredericia, Frederiksberg, Frederikshavn, Helsingør, Høje-Taastrup, Jammerbugt, Køge, Lejre, Lemvig, Lolland, Middelfart, Randers, Roskilde, Samsø, Sønderborg, Vejle and Aarhus.
The background for DK2020 is the Deadline 2020 report, published by the international C40 cities network and the consultancy firm Arup in 2016 following the Paris Agreement. The report sets a global standard for how cities and municipalities can contribute to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. It also points out that up to 40% of the goals in the Paris Agreement can be reached by implementing the right climate measures in the world’s cities and municipalities.
After having published the Deadline 2020 report, C40 has drawn up a global standard for how the network’s 97 member cities can prepare climate action plans to meet the most ambitious 1.5°C objective in the Paris Agreement. This global and ambitious approach is now to be realised by Danish municipalities through DK2020.