Cities are at the heart of climate action. The European Commission notes that urban areas both feel the impacts of climate change, like heatwaves and flooding, and generate most of today’s emissions, especially from transport and buildings. Because of this, local authorities play a key role in Europe’s shift toward climate‑neutral and climate‑resilient communities. (European Commission 2026.) The United Nations Environment Programme adds that cities are not only exposed to these growing pressures but also have strong potential to drive a change. Many are already reducing emissions by adopting cleaner energy, improving efficiency and planning for more sustainable urban living – all essential steps in tackling the climate challenges ahead. (UNEP 2025.) Together, these perspectives show why strengthening local climate work, such as climate councils, citizen initiatives and municipal climate plans, does matter. Real progress happens closely to people, where everyday choices and local decisions impact a more sustainable future.
Insights from Hillerød Climate Council
Local climate work has become central to Denmark’s green transition. During the CLIBUS 2nd Interregional meeting in Hillerød in March 2026, Oscar Brix Pedersen shared how a diverse group of citizens, experts and stakeholders works together to push local climate ambition forward. Their experience offers valuable lessons not only for the CLIBUS partners, but for municipalities everywhere working with multi-level governance. Since 2019, Petersen has been an active member of the Green Youth Movement, a Danish youth‑led climate organization that participates in environmental and sustainability initiatives. His activism led him to join the Hillerød Climate Council. Currently, he acts as a vice-chair of the council and represents youth perspectives in local climate‑related decision‑making. (Pedersen 2026.)
A local council can act where national bodies can’t, closer to communities, better connected to local stakeholders, and more aware of the specific climate potential and opportunities within the municipality (Pedersen 2026). The council was established in 2023 as part of Denmark’s DK2020 initiative. DK2020 is a nationwide effort where nearly every municipality developed a climate aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal, using adapted C40 standards (European Committee of the Regions 2026). Hillerød’s plan targets a 64 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 2019, supporting Denmark’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050 (Hillerød Kommune 2023). As Pedersen (2026) stated, the council monitors closely these targets; recent national reports raise doubts about whether these targets, especially those embedded in consumption and supply chains, can realistically be met.
The council’s members represent the Green Youth Movement, agriculture, nature conservation, utilities, business interests and local organisations. This diversity enables wide-ranging discussions and ensures that climate actions take into account both local realities and long-term sustainability goals. The Climate Council has helped bringing people together – municipalities, local groups, and businesses, to push forward a greener, more climate‑friendly future. It also offers support and advice to politicians and civil servants working on climate initiatives in Hillerød, such as the municipality’s climate plan, structured around seven thematic areas such as energy, transport, land use, consumption, adaptation and climate leadership. One of the council’s members, who represents the interests of the companies in Hillerød, also acts as regional CLIBUS stakeholders. (Pedersen 2026.)
The Climate Council has actively engaged in local media and local public debate to create awareness. They have also produced reports with recommendations on transport, energy transition, climate‑friendly food, and sustainable building. They also aim to explore new areas such as ESG collaboration with local businesses. (Pedersen 2026.)
The Hillerød example shows the values of co-creation and multi-level governance for accelerating local climate action. These are key principles driving CLIBUS – Runway to carbon neutrality – Involvement of business communities in climate strategies project, which helps five European regions strengthen public‑private cooperation and support SMEs in reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.
Link to the website of the CLIBUS project
Author
Katerina Medkova works as an RDI Specialist at LAB University of Applied Sciences and is the CLIBUS Project Manager. CLIBUS – Runway to carbon neutrality – Involvement of business communities in climate strategies is an Interreg Europe co-funded project led by LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland. The CITISYSTEM partnership consists of seven partners from Finland (2 partners), Denmark, Greece, Ukraine, and the Netherlands.
References
European Commission. 2026. Local and regional climate action: Spearheading a climate-neutral future with Europe’s towns, cities and regions. Cited 29 Mar 2026. Available at https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/local-and-regional-climate-action_en
European Committee of the Regions. 2026. DK2020. Cited 30 Mar 2026. Available at https://cor.europa.eu/en/news/stories/dk2020-0
Hillerød Kommune. 2023. Klimaplan og handleplan. Cited 30 Mar 2026. Available at https://www.hillerod.dk/demokrati-og-indflydelse/vision-politikker-og-strategier/klimaplan-og-handleplan/
Interreg Europe. 2025. CLIBUS – Runway to carbon neutrality – Involvement of business communities in climate strategies. Cited 29 Mar 2026. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/clibus
Pedersen, O. B. 2026. Hillerød Climate Council. Presentation given at the CITISYSTEM 2nd Interregional Meeting in Hillerød, Denmark on 19 Mar 2026.
UNEP. 2026. Cities and climate change. Cited 29 Mar 2026. Available at https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/cities-and-climate-change
Winkler, M. 2024. Climate change and the future of the world. Pexels. Cited 30 Mar 2026. Available at https://www.pexels.com/photo/climate-change-and-the-future-of-the-world-19802113/
Links
Link 1. Interreg Europe. 2025. Project Summary. CLIBUS. Cited 29 Mar 2026. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/clibus
