Back in 2022, with the help of CDEU, The Municipality of Aarhus was appointed one of the European Commission’s 100 selected cities committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2030.

As a step toward this, Aarhus has been granted EUR 590.000 through EU’s NetZeroCities-programme. The funding will be directed the so-called CO-SHAPE project (CO-SHaping Areas in Peri-urban Environments), to assist in optimising the city’s land use, enhancing the sector coupling, and expediting the local deployment of renewable energy.

Learn more: Three Danish cities amongst European trailblazers to achieve climate neutrality by 2030

Accelerating the efforts towards climate neutrality

In order to attain climate neutrality by 2030, innovative thinking and collaboration across both public and private parties are needed. The CO-SHAPE project plays an important part of this effort by addressing challenges and breaking down barriers that hinder the rapid deployment of renewable energy locally. These barriers include inefficient land use, lack of sector integration, and concerns among citizens.

The project has been granted EUR 590.000 by the EU Horizon Programme to support climate-neutral initiatives with a particular emphasis on a forthcoming energy park situated in the southern region of Aarhus Municipality.

The financial support is directed towards developing pathways for achieving climate neutrality by 2030 through clean mobility enhancements, energy efficiency and green urban planning. This initiative not only provides an opportunity to spearhead collaborative efforts but also facilitates the development of joint initiatives, fostering synergies with other EU programs.

CO-SHAPE aims to develop a planning method that is transferable to similar urban environments in Denmark and the rest of Europe, allowing Aarhus to lead the way for the rest of the EU.

The project runs from May 2024 to May 2026.