Aarhus’ transition strategy centers on the Climate Plan 2016-2020 which contains 50 initiatives to achieve the vision of making Aarhus a CO2-neutral city by 2030, through promoting active participation and social responsibility, adaptation to intense rainfall and raising sea levels, e.g., through investing annually EUR 19M in the separation of rainwater from wastewater using nature-based solutions (NBS) and NBS hybrids. Moreover, the City of Aarhus has started doubling the nature area by 2030 to ensure clean drinking water and improve recreation, biodiversity, social well-being, and health, with a parallel focus on improving accessibility to green areas for all citizens, including deprived communities.

The Aarhus ULL will engage with local citizens and policymakers in participatory activities, building on existing initiatives and traditions for involving citizens. Adaptive governance workshops stimulate and develop new forms of transition governance, engaging citizens and local stakeholders (businesses, communities, housing associations), to collect data and gain insights on how policies and initiatives can be developed.