Sisse Marie Welling (1986) is Lord Mayor of Copenhagen since January 2026, elected as a representative of the Green Left (Socialistisk Folkeparti). She is the first non–Social Democrat to hold the position in more than 100 years, supported by a broad coalition of parties.
As vice-chair of the C40 Steering Committee, the Lord Mayor will be a strong voice for sustainable urban development with a focus on sustainable and affordable housing and urban nature – all aimed at supporting and fostering a liveable, affordable, and healthy city. A city that thrives with green spaces, harbour baths, and strong everyday conditions for residents, not at least children. In Copenhagen, climate action is integrated across sectors – from how people move around the city and how homes are heated, to how neighbourhoods are planned and how the city adapts to changing weather.
Lord Mayor Welling was elected to the Copenhagen City Council (Borgerrepræsentationen) at the age of 23, and has been active in city politics for more than 15 years. Before becoming Lord Mayor, she served as Mayor of Health and Care from 2018 to 2025. She became politically active at 14 in Green Left Youth and holds a Master’s degree in history from the University of Copenhagen. She lives on Amager in Copenhagen with her husband, Bo, and their two children.