Climate policy
Realistic, long-term, and cost-effective solutions.
Status
In the summer of 2020, Odense City Council adopted an ambitious goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 at the latest, which is 20 years ahead of the national target. This initiative can inspire others, but it can also become very costly unless we ensure a cost-effective approach to greenhouse gas reduction.
The latest climate action plan for Odense from 2023 focuses primarily on energy consumption and mobility, but only addresses emissions physically occurring in Odense, failing to consider how Odense could help leverage opportunities to reduce emissions from sources outside the city.
Energy is the engine of our economy, and climate policy should therefore be based on realistic, long-term, and cost-effective solutions.
The current approach tends to focus on hasty, often unjustified solutions that make it unnecessarily expensive for both businesses and citizens.
Needs and challenges
Odense's challenges must particularly be seen in light of The Green Mobility Plan;
- Narrow-minded approach to the climate issue. CO2 knows no borders, which is why solutions for CO2 reduction should to a greater extent be sought outside Odense, as it is far cheaper for Odense.
- Reductions in mobility for car owners and freight transport. When roads and streets are closed, road users are sent around in confusion and barriers are created for passenger and freight transport that will surely make Odense poorer—and a policy that is in direct conflict with Odense's business and growth policy from 2021.
- Lack of involvement. Citizens and the business community must be involved in the process, and there should be a greater focus on bringing the city along rather than pushing it away when it comes to major, structural changes such as closed roads.
Summary
Liberal Alliance wants a climate agenda based on responsibility and data-driven decision-making. It is crucial to find a balance between climate considerations and economic growth, without short-term political ambitions driving decisions. At the same time, the costs to "the Odense community" for individual initiatives must be clearly communicated to Odense's businesses and citizens.
Political proposals for the climate area
- Data- and evidence-based mobility plan: We will develop a mobility plan built on valid data, professional knowledge, and analysis. The plan must ensure a balance between car traffic, bicycles, and public transport to meet the needs of citizens.
- Regional cooperation on renewable energy: Regional cooperation on renewable energy: Odense should collaborate with neighboring municipalities to locate renewable energy sources across municipal borders. This is necessary to optimize land use and ensure effective climate measures. This is not about installing municipal wind turbines, but about securing the necessary approvals so private actors can set up facilities.
- Energy optimization of municipal buildings: We want to invest in energy retrofitting of municipal buildings to reduce both energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
- Socioeconomic evaluation: Socioeconomic evaluation: All climate initiatives in Odense should be subject to a socioeconomic evaluation to prioritize cost-effective measures. CO2 knows no municipal borders, and this should also be reflected in municipal climate policy, where measures should not be more expensive than necessary.