The climate is hot

From April 29th-30th 2009, the Municipal System in Denmark assembles at a conference in Herning where the ‘Municipal Climate Initiative’ is presented. The Danish municipalities have a two part job; Firstly to reduce CO2 emissions through reducing energy consumption, thus stopping the rising temperature level. Secondly to adapt Danish municipalities to climate change which we in any case face. 

"Within The Municipal System in Denmark, we believe that now is the time to discuss the division between municipal and state responsibilities in relation to climate change. With the ‘Municipalities Climate Initiative’ we have started this discussion" emphasizes Jens Stenbæk, chairman of the Technical and Environmental Committee in The Municipal System in Denmark.

One of the aims of the conference is to figure out who will pay for global warming impacts on local construction costs. According to the municipalities, this requires 100 million Euro during the next five years to improve buildings by means of, for example, window renovations and insulating cavity walls, as well as 65 million Euro a year for handling wastewater.

There is a specific focus on handling increasing amounts of wastewater due to climate change. In recent years, torrential rain has caused major flooding in residential areas due to sewer inability to withstand the pressure and the lack of possibilities for seepage in urban areas. As a consequence, part of the plan is to create incentives through, for example, rewards to landowners who themselves create seepage of rainwater on their land.

"With this initiative we present several examples of what can be done if the political will is there," Jens Stenbæk says. "How can we make the best links between energy supply and energy use so that, at any time, we use the most climate-friendly energy most efficiently? How can we create a coherent transport system for the benefit of the environment and citizens by working across authorities? And how can we handle rainwater seepage in new and exciting ways in cities and the countryside."