Copenhagen-GoodPracticeAward-2024

Copenhagen/ Denmark

Climate Action with citizens I

Collaborative Approaches to Sustainability and Resilience

About our URBACT Good Practice*

The Climate Taskforce aims to bring the green transition to a local level by integrating citizen cooperation. The focus in Copenhagen (DK) is on making the transition an integrated part of urban renewal, and to strengthen the commitment of citizens to take climate action.

Solutions offered

Bridging Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processes

• Climate officers act as intermediaries, aligning municipal policies with citizen-driven initiatives like shared waste solutions, climate ambassador courses, and local events.

Community-Led Green Transition Plans

• The Climate Taskforce supports local communities in developing and managing their own green transition initiatives in cocreation with the municipality.

Local Climate Officers in Urban Renewal

• Since 2021, climate officers have been deployed in Copenhagen to integrate green perspectives into urban renewal projects and collaborate with residents on climate-related initiatives.

Integrated and participatory approach

The Climate Taskforce practice uses an integrated approach, addressing environmental, economic, and social dimensions, through both horizontal and vertical integration. A local climate officer in each of the renewal areas acts as a central point, integrating political objectives with community needs.

The local green and just transition plan follows an Asset-Based Community Development approach, empowering citizens to lead and manage local green initiatives independently.

Empower the citizens

Green transition

Lokal stakeholders and the municipality working together towards a just transition!

• Environmental: Energy efficiency through solar panels and reduced water and heat consumption.
• Economic: Circular economy via repair cafés and scalable sustainable actions.

• Social: Green communities fostering connections through food, recircle waste, and biodiversity.

Building trust and capacity locally and citywide through cross-district cooperation, citizen-driven actions, and a clear communication channel within a multi-level governance structure - simplifying the often complex municipal system.

Creating local action plans for the green and just transition

Steering groups for area renewals

Take policy to the street

Involving local residents, community organizers, and local businesses to help shape the area renewal plans alongside the local climate officers.

• Workshops on biodiversity
• Support for refurbishment of estates
• Understand your boiler room
• Redesign your street

Local Climate Officers

Local climate officers facilitate the participatory approach, through the green actions implemented in local area renewals, involving residents, associations and businesses.

Our impact

Significant Energy Savings – Climate Taskforce initiatives have led to an 8.1 GWh reduction in energy consumption and a projected 11% decrease in heating use over five years in targeted areas. Enhanced Community Engagement – Collaboration with housing associations improves waste sorting, green communal activities, and energy-efficient building management through caretaker networks. Stronger Citizen-Municipality Link – Climate officers facilitate direct dialogue between residents and the municipality, ensuring citizen input shapes local climate initiatives.

Driving change for better cities

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