Copenhagen’s failure to meet 2025 net zero target casts doubt on other pledges
Published on 16/09/2022, 11:49am
Comment: Copenhagen was the first city to launch a carbon neutrality plan in 2012, but has given up on its pledge due to a lack of CCS funding
Copenhagen, often celebrated as one of the world's greenest cities, has given up on its 2025 carbon neutrality target. (Photo: Franz-Michael Melbin/Flickr)
By Kirstine Lund Christiansen and Inge-Merete Hougaard
The city of Copenhagen, often celebrated as one of the world’s greenest for its cycling culture and other initiatives, recently defaulted on its pledge to become carbon-neutral by 2025.
This early failure in the global race to net zero emissions (a balance between CO₂ emitted and absorbed) may foreshadow backtracking by other target-setters, indicating that pledges to cease contributing to climate change demand greater scrutiny.
Since 2012, when Copenhagen launched its plan to become the first carbon-neutral city in the world by 2025, the city has enjoyed international recognition and a significant branding boost. It expects to reduce emissions by 80% by, for instance, switching its power and district heating systems to biomass, wind and solar, renovating buildings to make them energy efficient and improving public transport.
https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/09/16/copenhagens-failure-to-meet-2025-net-zero-target-casts-doubt-on-other-city-pledges/
