Another 30 municipalities have committed to develop climate action plans using the C40 Climate Action Planning Framework. Adding to the list of 64 Danish municipalities that already are a part of the DK2020 project. This means that Denmark is close to having all municipalities developing plans committed to keeping global heating below 1.5℃.
The DK2020 project is inspired by C40’s Deadline 2020 project, which sets a global framework for how cities and municipalities can contribute to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The partners behind the project are Realdania, Local Government Denmark (KL), and the five Danish regions, with CONCITO and C40 leading the project and being knowledge partners.
In the Spring of 2019, Realdania launched an open call in Denmark for municipalities to join the DK2020 pilot project. Today, DK2020 is open for all remaining municipalities and currently 94 municipalities across the country will follow in the steps of C40 cities.
The 30 municipalities count Billund, Bornholm, Brønderslev, Egedal, Fanø, Frederikssund, Greve, Gribskov, Guldborgsund, Hillerød, Holstebro, Hørsholm, Ikast-Brande, Ishøj, Kalundborg, Læsø, Mariagerfjord, Morsø, Næstved, Norddjurs, Rebild, Ringsted, Silkeborg, Skanderborg, Solrød, Stevns, Syddjurs, Thisted, Tønder and Vallensbæk. By 2023 all municipalities will have to hand in their climate action plans.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “These 94 Danish municipalities are once again setting the pace for towns and cities around the world, by developing highly ambitious climate action plans. Their efforts to rapidly cut emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050, are based on the clear scientific evidence of what is needed to tackle the global climate crisis. We would like to thank all the partners for their generous support, and to make the DK2020 project possible.”
Jesper Nygård, CEO of Realdania said: “In 2019 when we invited 20 municipalities to join the DK2020 pilot project, we had not in our wildest dreams imagined that we would stand here today – 2 years later – with a project that counts 94 municipalities. I’m proud to see that Danish municipalities and their residents have chosen to take responsibility for one of the most defining global challenges of our time. Cities across the world are looking to the Danish municipalities for inspiration. Today, they will have 94 municipalities to share knowledge with – in addition to Copenhagen.”