Aarhus CO2 neutral in 2030 - Tackling climate change in EcoCity Aarhus

ÅRHUS CO2 NEUTRAL I 2030

1. EcoCity Aarhus takes the lead in tackling climate change 3

2. A vision for the climate in Aarhus 5

3. The City of Aarhus has got plans for the climate 6

4. CO2 emission is monitored every year 7

5. Public solutions 9Energy supply of the future 9The light rail is on track 10Aarhus Cycling City 11Environmentally friendly vehicles in the streets 11The forests are growing 13

6. Public participation 14Citizens and employees play a part 14Energy efficient houses help the climate – and your wallet 15Climate ambassadors are front-runners 16

7. Cooperation with businesses and schools 17A climate lab with innovative prospects 17Climate partnerships accelerate cooperation 18An innovation centre for energy and energy technology 19A climate package for inspiration 20The Climate Baton generates good ideas 20

8. Climate adaptation 21The city must be protected from flooding 21 9. What about the future? 23

Table of contents

Editing and layout: Climate Secretariat, City of Aarhus, Valdemarsgade 18, DK-8000 Århus C. E-mail: co2030@aarhus.dkPhoto: Simon Jeppesen, Morten Jac, Colourbox, Finn Byrum

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Table of contents

1. EcoCity Aarhus takes the lead in tackling climate change

The City of Aarhus will be CO2 neutral in 2030. This is the goal for Aarhus – one of the six official EcoCities in Denmark.

In 2007 the City Council of Aarhus set an ambitious goal: Aarhus will be CO2 neutral in 2030. This goal underlines the fact that the City of Aarhus wants to be one of the top climate friendly cities in Denmark. Ambitious plans have now lead to a deliberate and productive course for tackling climate change in Aarhus.

But already in recent years the City of Aarhus has been making an effort to protect the environment and the climate.

Environmental action plans, energy management systems, wastewater plans, green ac-counts and environmental appraisal of construction projects have been reality in Aarhus for several years and represent examples of how the city has been working with the climate issue for a number of years.

Furthermore, Aarhus is one of the leading cities in the country when it comes to district heating supply – among other things, a result of an efficient waste incineration system. For many years the citizens of Aarhus have also had actual alternatives to the car be-cause of the city’s many public transport possibilities and extensive cycle path system.

The City of Aarhus has committed itself to CO2 reduc-tion through several national and international agree-ments:

•In January 2009, the City of Aarhus was the first Dan-ish city to sign the Covenant of Mayors. This means that Aarhus has to reduce its energy consumption with more than 20 % before 2020.

•In March 2009 The City of Aarhus entered into a Curve Breaker Agreement with the Danish Electricity Saving Trust for a four year period (2009-2012). This means that Aarhus has to reduce the annual electricity con-sumption of the municipal buildings with at least 2 % pr. year.

•In March 2009 the City of Aarhus signed an agreement with The Danish Society for Nature Conservation to become a so-called Climate Community. Among other things this means that Aarhus is obligated to reduce its CO2 emissions by 2 % each year until 2030.

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The vision for the climate in the City of Aarhus has been drawn up on the basis of the political goal of reaching CO2 neutrality in 2030. The vision states:

“In order to develop a sustainable city, Aarhus takes the lead in the effort to tackle climate change by means of initiatives involving buildings and physical structures as well as citizens’ behaviour. The City of Aarhus will sweep before its own door, carry out demonstration projects and influence national legislation”. The vision is carried out through concrete efforts to tackle climate change – building on three principles:

• Holistic thinking• Synergy between different players • Long-term perspective

2. A vision for the climate in Aarhus

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The climate plan for the City of Aarhus consists of several generations of climate plans reaching towards 2030. The plans each have a two year per-spective in order to guarantee progress, adjustment and evaluation.

The climate plans are versatile, and they prioritise and coordinate across the municipal organization, the business community and educational institutions.

”Climate change is a fact – globally and locally – no matter how much we try to pull the emergency brake”, says Claus Nickelsen, director of the City of Aarhus’ Climate Secre-tariat, - “But we can work towards making sure that the consequences of climate change do not become even worse. Innovation, new forms of cooperation, new technology, collective solutions and climate friendly habits are all key words when we want to reach the goal of CO2 neutrality in Aarhus. To reach our goals the climate plans represent an essential tool.”

3. The City of Aarhus has got plans for the climate

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Aarhus was the first city in Denmark to monitor and map its total CO2 emission. Furthermore, the City of Aarhus has participated in the develop-ment of an instrument – the CO2 calculator – that other cities now use to monitor their CO2 emission.

The foundation for working with the climate plans is an annual CO2 mapping where Aarhus calculates its emission from the geographical area of Aarhus as well as from the City of Aarhus as a business organization. In this way, the City of Aarhus obtains an awareness of where the city needs to focus its attention and the opportunity to estimate the effect of its efforts.

The most recent mapping shows a CO2 emission of 2,210,000 tonnes – the equivalent of 7.5 tonnes pr. citizen. 94 % of the CO2 emission comes from heat, electricity and transportation – something we all use. Therefore, an efficient effort to tackle climate change requires participation and action from every citizen as well as the entire business community.

4. CO2 emission is monitored every year

Carbon footprint in the workplace In 2007, the CO2 emission from the City of Aarhus as a business organization was approx. 110,000 tonnes. This corresponds to about 5 % of the total emission and to an average of 4.7 tonnes pr. full time employee. This is why the City of Aarhus is also focusing on reducing CO2 emis-sion from the City of Aarhus as a business organization. E.g.:

• Energy management system in the Department of Techni-cal Services and Environment: Implementation of certified energy management and exchange of experience with the other departments. The focus is on how the City of Aarhus as a business organization reduces its energy consumption and its impact on the environment.

• Municipal buildings and facilities: One of the largest investments in the Climate Plan 2010-2011 is connected to the municipal buildings. They are to become energy ef-ficient, both when it comes to renovation and new develop-ments, according to the Danish building regulations of Low Energy Class 1. The work will take the form of demonstra-tion projects.

3. The City of Aarhus has got plans for the climate

8In the long term, it is the intention that the heat supply in the City of Aarhus will be CO2 neutral

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Energy supply of the future The City of Aarhus has got a unique heating supply system. 95 % of all households are connected to the system. The goal is CO2 neutral heating supply.

An innovative climate adapted heating plan and a number of specific projects will make the heating supply system in Aarhus CO2 neutral long term, e.g. there are plans to utilize the heat from the municipal incineration plant even better.

At the moment, the climate adapted heating plan takes the form of an ambitious discus-sion paper for the decision-makers. The paper illustrates three scenarios – each able to bring about CO2 neutral heating supply. Even though the climate adapted heating plan has not yet been passed, the City of Aarhus has already launched several initiatives to make the heating supply more climate and energy friendly.

The municipal incineration plant in the suburb of Lisbjerg has been upgraded, and it is now possible to utilize some of the heat from the flue gas which otherwise would have gone out through the chimney and vanished into thin air. Also, the renovation of two old furnace rooms has increased the energy production at the plant. These are both important steps towards a CO2 neutral Aarhus, since energy from the incineration plant is now close to CO2 neutral. All in all, the upgrades contribute to a yearly reduction in CO2 emission of 60,000 tonnes. Also the citizens of Aarhus are capable recyclers. Every year the six recycling centres in Aarhus count 1.2 mil. visits, 67 % of all waste is recycled and 31 % is utilized for incineration and heating supply.

5. Public solutionsFour cornerstones for working with climate change

When working with climate change, the City of Aarhus has four cornerstones. This ensures a holistic and long-term effort:

• Public solutions: An environmentally friendly heating supply, quality traffic solutions – e.g. a light rail and better conditions for cyclists

• Public participation: The home owner, car owner, the con-sumer, the employee and the citizen all contribute to the reduction of CO2 emission

• Cooperation with the business world, consultants, com-panies and educational institutions: The business world and different types of companies as well as research and educational institutions are important partners

• Climate adaptation: Protection against flooding and other consequences of climate change

The four cornerstones illustrate the foundation of the daily work with climate change in the City of Aarhus. All concrete projects are carried out based on these four cornerstones.

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The light rail is on track

The City of Aarhus wants to promote sustainable forms of transporta-tion. In January 2009, the Danish National Parliament reached a trans-port agreement earmarking DKK 500 mil. to the first stage of the light rail project in Aarhus.

As early as in 2000, the City Council decided that the solution of the city’s traffic-related problems should come from prioritising busses and other forms of public transporta-tion, especially transportation by rail. Since then, the municipalities of eastern Jutland have formed a cooperation to establish a “Vision for the light rail”. The light rail will offer commuters a very fast, sustainable and comfortable alternative to the car. When the light rail takes its maiden trip in 2015 the rails will have been interlinked with the “Odder Rail-road” south of the city and the “Grenå Railroad” to the north – with new trains to follow on these railroads. New rails will be built – stretching from the city centre and 12 kilome-tres out via the suburbs of Skejby, Lisbjerg and Lystrup in the northern part of Aarhus.

With an expected “park and ride” facility in connection with both the northern high way and the light rail, the commuters will benefit from fast and efficient public transportation while avoiding parking problems.

Additionally, the electric light rail in the urban area of Aarhus makes room for urban renewal, followed by enhanced quality of life as well as less noise and pollution in the streets.

Studies show that in order for citizens to choose public transportation, it is very impor-tant to have frequent departures. This is why the City of Aarhus is planning a light rail with up to 12 departures an hour.

With this project, the City of Aarhus is well on the way to creating an efficient public transport system, which will benefit both the city and the surrounding areas.

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Aarhus Cycling City The City of Aarhus is a so-called Bicycle City and bike riders are a well es-tablished part of the street traffic in Aarhus.

The city’s 250 kilometres of bicycle lanes contribute to making it appealing to go by bike. The City Council has passed a bicycle action plan of 65 million DKK which will make con-ditions for the local cyclists even better. Soon we will see more and better bicycle lanes, bicycle barometers and bicycle parking facilities. Other than that, the City of Aarhus has developed a new device that will be set up in certain intersections to warn cyclists of potential accidents involving trucks making right turns.

Environmentally friendly vehicles in the streets

The dedication to environmentally friendly vehicles is a reality.

Cutting back on car traffic is possibly one of the most difficult challenges in the effort to tackle climate change. That said the electric car shows particular potential as the most CO2 friendly transportation technology to challenge conventional petrol and diesel fuelled cars. That is why the City of Aarhus will work to promote environmentally friendly vehicles in the streets in cooperation with other companies.

The goal is to introduce electric cars, electric bicycles and other environmentally friendly vehicles in the municipal organisation as well as develop principles for and trial versions of charging stations for electric cars in the urban area of Aarhus.

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The forests are growingThe City of Aarhus has ambitious plans for the local forests and the inten-tion is to increase the absorption of CO2 in nature zones. By 2030 the for-est area in the City of Aarhus will have doubled.

Well kept forests are among the finest characteristics of Aarhus. This is underlined by the fact that the forests of Aarhus are estimated to have more than three mil. visitors every year.

The forests benefit the city, the citizens and the climate. And both new and existing forests play an important part when it comes to environmental protection and the efforts to tackle climate change. Every hectare of new forest absorbs around 14 tonnes of CO2 annually. Furthermore, the forests provide maximum protection of our drinking water. In the future more wetlands will be established in the existing forests, which generates more storage of CO2 as well as buffer zones for an increase in rainfall. Ultimately, new forests create high-quality nature zones in the local area.

The Municipal Plan 2009 for the City of Aarhus includes a plan to double the existing for-est area by 2030 – corresponding to 3200 hectares of new forest. Elements of the plan are already being launched with the allocation of DKK 38 mil. over the next three years to plant 320 hectares of new forest. The new forests will be both public and private forests because the plan entails attractive subsidy schemes promoting private afforestation.

The amount of CO2 present in the atmosphere can be reduced in two ways: By emitting less CO2 and by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. By means of photosynthesis trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and bind the carbon in the biomass of the forest. CO2 absorption is continu-ous during the growth period of the tree – up to 90 years

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Citizens and employees play a part

It is important to involve the citizens of Aarhus in the effort to combat cli-mate change, to offer them inspiration so that they implement new climate friendly habits in general and start renovating their houses in an energy efficient manner.

The citizens of Aarhus are the source of a large part of the CO2 emission in Aarhus. Consequently, the citizens must be offered solutions on how to make a climate friendly life easier. E.g. there is great potential in the new technical solutions making it easier to monitor one’s own energy consumption. Also, it is possible to generate considerable reductions by purchasing low energy household electrical appliances and by carrying out energy renovation on private houses. Campaigns and social media contribute to mak-ing citizens aware of the climate challenges. And ultimately, by boosting awareness of climate issues among local school children we make sure that future adults are equipped to continue the job of tackling climate change.

These are all themes that the City of Aarhus has a dedicated focus on. The City’s climate web site - www.CO2030.dk - is continuously developed to offer citizens the knowledge and the tools required to be a climate friendly home owner, consumer, child or adult in the City of Aarhus.

6. Public participation

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Energy efficient houses help the climate – and your wallet

Both the climate and your wallet benefit from an energy efficient house. The City of Aarhus assists in the process by means of measuring heat loss from houses, subsidy schemes and climate partnerships.

In the spring of 2009 the first thermographic overflight of Aarhus was performed to measure the heat loss from houses and buildings. The overflight provided a clear illus-tration of the fact that much can be done by reducing energy consumption in the houses and buildings of the city. Therefore, the City of Aarhus will launch a service where citizens and companies can see how much excess heat their buildings emit – on the basis of thermographic overflights. The service is available from the end of 2010.

Accompanied by a climate partnership with the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy and their online energy guide for houses, the citizens of Aarhus will be provided with knowledge of where and how to start energy renovation of their houses.

Other than that, the City’s department for Waste and Heat offers the citizens a subsidy scheme encouraging energy renovation of their houses. This popular cash injection makes it easier to be an energy friendly home owner in Aarhus.

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Climate ambassadors are front-runners

The City of Aarhus has got 30.000 employees. The goal is to make climate a key issue so that all employees can develop new climate friendly habits and at the same time motivate others.

In order to intensify the effort towards the City’s own employees a group of municipal climate ambassadors have been appointed. The climate ambassadors are all active when it comes to involving their colleagues and the entire work place in the efforts to tackle cli-mate change – e.g. by introducing AutoPowerOff plug banks at the work place or to create awareness of the City’s goal to become CO2 neutral in 2030.

One of the climate ambassadors is Jim, age 40, it consultant in the Mayor’s Department. He says:”The climate issue has to be top priority in the media and each of us have to show the way. If we want to be able to do something about the challenges we are facing, the unpopular decisions have to be made at a central level. There is a need for more stick than carrot!”Jim, klimaambassadør

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A climate lab with innovative prospects

The City of Aarhus wants to support industrial development in connection with climate issues. The possibility of creating new solutions and technologies to the benefit of both citizens and companies in Aarhus is emphasised by the fact that the City of Aarhus aspires to enter into climate partnerships with relevant players. The City of Aarhus is also planning to help companies with energy reduction as well as participate in the develop-ment of an innovation centre for energy.

The City of Aarhus’ goal to become CO2 neutral in 2030 offers the city great opportuni-ties of becoming a fascinating demonstration city where companies can test and experi-ence new energy and climate solutions. Overall, the dialogue with the business world, research and educational institutions is crucial if the city wants to achieve its goals of CO2 neutrality in 2030. Both in order to reduce emissions and strengthen the industrial development and research efforts, but also to kick off innovative climate-related projects. Therefore we need to boost cooperation between the Central Denmark Region, local knowledge institutions, companies, consultants and the City of Aarhus.

7. Cooperation with businesses and schools

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Climate partnerships accelerate cooperation In November 2009 the City of Aarhus entered into a climate partnership with DONG Energy and an agreement with NRGi is just around the corner. More climate partnerships are on the way. The climate partnership with NRGi is expected to launch a series of initiatives, e.g. cooperation within the framework of communication and public participation, charging stations for hybrid cars and electric cars, energy monitors for municipal buildings as well as knowledge sharing on several other matters. The partnership with DONG Energy will become very important for a CO2 neutral heating supply. Among other things, the goal of this partnership is to convert one of the facilities at the Studstrup Power Plant into a biomass generated heating system. This means that a significant part of the district heat-ing in the City of Aarhus will eventually be based solely on CO2 neutral fuels.

Anders Eldrup, group managing director of DONG Energy, says:

”It is a positive and strong signal that the second largest city in Denmark wants to be so specific about its ambitious climate strategy in cooperation with DONG Energy. The City of Aarhus has set the bar high and we look forward to a profitable collaboration”.

Managing Director Søren Sørensen of NRGi comments on the climate partnership:

“The agreement can (…) contribute to significant CO2 reduction both for the City of Aarhus and for the climate in general”.

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An innovation centre for energy and energy technology

A wide circle of players across industry, education, research and development as well as public authorities – including the City of Aarhus – want to establish a new innovation centre in the Aarhus Docklands – an international beacon of technology: Navitas Park.

Navitas Park has got two energy-related objectives:• That the building attains classification as a Low Energy Class 1 construction which means that the energy consumption of operations cannot be more than 50 % of the standard building code• That students, teachers, researchers and entrepreneurs are actively involved in reduc-ing the energy consumption determined by the users’ behaviour.

It is planned that the building itself will have the characteristics of an energy lab where the building components and installations are directly applicable in daily education, development and research.

Keld Laursen, Associate Rector at the Aarhus School of Engineering

Søren Sørensen, Managing Director at NRGi

The Climate Secreatriat at Aarhus University

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A climate package for inspiration

There is great potential for saving energy in manufacturing companies as well as other kinds of companies. A barrier for reducing energy consumption is often a lack of over-view of the different methods for energy reduction as well as a lack of in depth mapping of the energy consumption in the individual company. Therefore, the City of Aarhus is in-troducing a climate package to offer inspiration to companies as to how they can reduce their energy consumption.

The climate package will consist of different tools and options, which will support the process of identifying and implementing efforts to reduce energy consumption.

The Climate Baton generates good ideas

The most important asset of a company is its employees. The launch of a ”Climate Baton” will create focus on energy habits, and the employees’ many ideas for tackling cli-mate change will be the starting point for knowledge sharing. The Climate Baton started at The Danish Broadcasting Corporation in October 2009 and during the following year the baton will visit 12 private and public companies. On the web site, www.CO2030.dk, the City of Aarhus tells the stories of energy-related experiences and know-how collected from the companies – for the inspiration of others.

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The city must be protected from flooding Among other things, climate change causes more heavy rain fall and a higher water level in the Bay of Aarhus. In many cases sewers and sewage treatment plants do not have the capacity to handle such large amounts of water – risking both flooding and water pollu-tion. Therefore, the effort is positioned on several fronts.

Climate change also means periods of increased flow of water in the streams, more water in the lakes and periods of almost dried-up streams. A higher water level in the Bay of Aarhus could lead to flooding of Aarhus city centre along the Aarhus Stream running through the city.Aarhus is also close to the water! From north to south stretching along the bay and from east to west stretching along the Aarhus Stream and the Egaa Stream. With the prospect of heavier rain fall and an increased water level in streams, lakes and the bay – this is not without problems.

Planning with consideration for a potential increase in the water levels as well as heavier and more frequent rain fall shows that the city is able to make the necessary adjustments before the actual problems arrive. Planning can be done by adapting existing and future urban zones, roads and other technical facilities to a change in climate and by consider-ing nature and landscape as essential elements of climate adaptation.

8. Climate adaptation

This is how Aarhus adapts to climate change • Making room for controlled flooding – e.g. by establishing wetlands in the river valleys

• High water locks at the mouths of the Aarhus and Egaa Streams

• Less maintenance of the streams. This causes water to be retained in the streams and the areas surrounding the streams

• Mapping areas in danger of being flooded

• Establishing early warning systems in case of flood risk

• Making the city’s water an integrated part of urban develop-ment

• Planning new urban areas where water will not be a prob-lem but to the benefit of both citizens, environment and nature

• Reorganisation of sewage systems so that rain and waste-water are diverted separately

• Local management of rain water

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Reduction of CO2 emission is one of two main challenges when it comes to our climate. Adaptation of society to a changed climate is the other.

In the coming years climate has to be integrated into many different contexts, e.g. the work culture in the City’s organisation, innovation and development, business promo-tion, education and educational institutions, purchasing and operations, planning, utility supply and large initiatives like European City of Culture 2017.

The climate plans will be used for:• creating an overview as well as coordinating and prioritising the many different initia tives and projects• securing a lasting focus on the issue as well as involving citizens and the business world• continuous evaluation of whether the total effort is adequate for reaching the goal of CO2 neutrality by 2030

In many ways the climate plans will have major influence on a number of the decisions that the City of Aarhus as well as the citizens and the companies will be making during the coming years.

9. What about the future?

ÅRHUS CO2 NEUTRAL I 2030