While most U.S. cities with carbon neutrality targets have set their sights on reaching this milestone by 2035 at the earliest, Copenhagen, Denmark, is pursuing a more ambitious goal. The Danish capital aims to become a carbon-neutral capital by next year, with the the city already 75% of the way there.
Since 2005, Copenhagen has reduced its emissions output by three-quarters, using a wide range of sustainability initiatives to make its industries and daily life more environmentally friendly. Half of all commutes in the city are now made by bicycle, schools have stopped serving red meat, and the city has invested heavily in renewable energy infrastructure.
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These policies have brought Copenhagen closer to its goal, though the city will not reach full carbon neutrality by 2025 as originally planned. By next year, Copenhagen expects to cut emissions by 80% compared to 20 years ago.
Officials are now planning to achieve full neutrality for the city before 2030. If successful, it could still be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital.
City leaders hope Copenhagen’s rapid decarbonization progress serves as an example for other cities around the world, especially since metropolitan areas are expected to house three-quarters of the global population and produce around 70% of global emissions by 2050.
Tags: carbon emissions, Climate Activism, Climate Change, Denmark, Energy, greenhouse gas emissions, Renewable energy, zero-emissions
Jack Aylmer
WHILE MOST U.S. CITIES HAVE SET THEIR CARBON NEUTRAL TARGETS FOR 20-35 AT THE EARLIEST-
THE DANISH CAPITAL OF COPENHAGEN AIMS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BY NEXT YEAR.
IN FACT – THEY’RE ALREADY 75-PERCENT OF THE WAY THERE.
SINCE 2005, COPENHAGEN HAS SEEN A THREE-QUARTERS REDUCTION IN ITS EMISSIONS OUTPUT-
USING VARIOUS INITIATIVES TO MAKE ALL OF ITS SECTORS GREENER.
HALF OF ALL COMMUTES THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE MADE ON BICYCLES.
SCHOOLS NO LONGER SERVE RED MEAT.
AND NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
WITH THESE POLICIES, COPENHAGEN WANTS TO BECOME THE FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL CAPITAL CITY IN THE WORLD.
ALTHOUGH, DESPITE THEIR NOTABLE PROGRESS, THAT WON’T HAPPEN IN 20-25 AS PREVIOUSLY PLANNED.
BY NEXT YEAR, COPENHAGEN WILL BE LOOKING AT AN EMISSIONS CUT OF 80 PERCENT COMPARED TO TWO DECADES AGO.
MEANWHILE, CITY OFFICIALS ARE STILL PLANNING TO ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY BEFORE 20-30.
THEY’RE HOPING OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD – SINCE METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HOME TO ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF HUMANITY AND PRODUCE AROUND 70% OF OUR EMISSIONS BY 20-50.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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