Copenhagen Zeroes In on Carbon-Neutral Goal

Wind turbines, new transit lines, district heating and cooling networks, more efficient buildings, and expanding bicycle infrastruture are among the myriad ways that Copenhagen's leaders are pushing the city towards its ambitious plan for carbon-neutrality.

"'Copenhageners like the ambition, they like being part of the idea of going green for the whole city,' Copenhagen Lord Mayor Frank Jensen said in an interview with Yale Environment 360. 'Our focus as a city, as citizens, is all about livability.'"

"Nearly three-quarters of the emissions reductions identified in the 2025 plan will come by transitioning to less carbon-intensive ways of producing heat and electricity," explains Gerdes. "The goal is a diverse but complementary clean energy supply: biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar."

"What will all this cost? Direct city investment in the 2025 Climate Plan is estimated to be $472 million through 2025. Add private funds and total investment could hit $4.78 billion over the same period, Copenhagen officials say."