SUSTAINIA
GUIDE TO
COPENHAGEN
2025
Exploring the sustainable capital of tomorrow
FOREWORD
SUSTAINIA
GUIDE TO
COPENHAGEN
2025
3 // FOREWORD
“Prediction is very difficult,
especially about the future.”
Niels Bohr, Nobel Laureate in Physics
The Sustainia Guide to Copenhagen 2025 builds on the existing plans for
Copenhagen. Although we have added a few teaspoons of creativity and
imagination, the book is a realistic scenario of a not so distant future – and
not an utopian experiment. However, the future is yet to be written. New
technologies may emerge and others may fail. Alternative solutions may
appear and plans may change. But one thing remains certain: Our future
destination depends on our course today.
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6 FOREWORD
10 ARCHITECTURE
36 PEOPLE AND CULTURE
48 GETTING AROUND
60 ENVIRONMENT
74 HISTORY
82 ECONOMY
92 SHOPPING
104 24/72 HOURS IN COPENHAGEN
114 COMING BACK IN 2050
5 // FOREWORD
FOREWORD
CONTENTS
“A CITY
EXISTS FOR
THE SAKE
OF A GOOD
LIFE, NOT
FOR THE
SAKE OF
LIFE ONLY”
- ARISTOTLE
6 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
welcomeS
you
to Copenhagen 2025
Sustainia is all about making what may seem impossible possible. Turning dreams into reality. Making inspiring
visions into concrete and achievable actions. Actions that
will take us to the fascinating destination Sustainia – a desirable and achievable sustainable future.
Allow us to take you on a journey:
Copenhagen in the year 2025.
We hope this journey will excite and inspire you. Open
your eyes to the fascinating opportunities of living in a
sustainianised city.
The Sustainia Guide to Copenhagen 2025 builds on the
existing and extensive plans for Copenhagen. We visualise
7 // FOREWORD
FOREWORD
Sustainia
these plans and make them tangible for visitors and citizens. Therefore this Guide isn’t an utopian experiment but
a realistic image of a not so distant future.
By 2025, Copenhagen will be carbon neutral. However,
the city is already a beacon of sustainability. It is part of
the city’s sense of self, woven into the heart, soul and mind
of Copenhagen.
For decades, the city has pursued sustainable policies.
Copenhagen is evidence that a sustainable city is not only
a cleaner and greener city – but also a city with a high
quality of life. A smarter, healthier, happier city. And a
more prosperous one. Sustainia is about just that: a better,
happier, healthier, smarter – and more enjoyable - world.
The journey to that world is fuelled by excitement and the
appeal of the destination.
In Guide to Sustainia, we explored the sustainable society of tomorrow. We developed the first version of the Sustainia City Principles. Since then we have developed them
further, and we will continue to do so as we move along.
The Sustainia Guide to Copenhagen 2025 is the first in
Sustainia’s series of city guides, in which we envision the
cities of tomorrow. By looking through a sustainable lens,
we experience these principles in real life.
Let the journey begin! We
welcome you to Copenhagen in
the year 2025. Enjoy the ride.
Laura Storm
Executive Director
Sustainia
8 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
FOREWORD
Sustainia
City Principles
1
All citizens should live within a 5-10 minute walk to green areas
2
Citizens should have access to fresh food and clean water
3
The city should work to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings.
4
New buildings must meet energy efficiency standards– such as LEED
certification
5
Attractive spaces between buildings invite citizens to interact
6
Walking anywhere in the city should be easy and safe
7
Easy and efficient public transportation
8
Clean rivers, harbours and beaches.
9
Educational opportunities to ensure a young a vibrant atmosphere
10
9 // FOREWORD
Public electric car hires and plenty of charging stations will reduce air and
noise pollution
11
Well designed bike lane infrastructure
12
Engage citizens in making cities sustainable – ownership and empowerment through education
13
City leaders should recognize sustainability as a driver for innovation,
creativity and prosperity
14
Sustainable cities improve the quality of life for its citizens
ARCHITECTURE
When you explore the different
architectural attractions of
Copenhagen, remember to
take in the best piece of Danish
design – the city itself.
Copenhagen is designed for
people. A city designed to be
convenient, creative, efficient
and fun. A smart city.
10 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Spotting all of the smart improvements can
be difficult. In order to explore this hidden side
of the city, take notice of what is missing. Be on
watch for:
Less hassle
Public transportation is integrated, convenient and fast.
Less waste
Flexible systems allow energy to be stored until needed.
Less floods
Green roofs, canals and pocket parks help absorb cloud
bursts.
Less noise
Many cars run on electricity and are nearly silent.
Less random use
Appliances such as washing machines respond to information and start when energy prices are low.
Less congestion
Intelligent traffic systems adjust the streets of the city to
avoid traffic jams.
Less short-sightedness
New sustainable buildings ensure low maintenance
costs and low total cost of ownership.
11 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
Smart city
12 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
If you have the chance, take the Metro to Nordhavn and
explore the new district that boosts Copenhagen’s image
as an sustainable metropolis. You will discover how sustainability and quality of life go hand in hand.
In the dense urban environment at Nordhavn, the natural choice for residents and visitors is to walk, cycle or use
public transport, rather than travel by car. Take a stroll
through the intimate, compact neighborhood and take
in the architecture where old meets new. Notice how old
buildings, such as the silos, have been retrofitted and today are modern office buildings.
Make sure to look up, too, as some older buildings have
been outfitted with additional stories – building new atop
the old. The rubble and gravel from the old buildings that
were demolished have been reused in the construction of
new buildings.
Sustainability is an innate part of the district’s design.
Efficiency is a top priority, and the neighbourhood is powered by several kinds of renewable energy, including solar,
wind and geothermal. Every drop of rainwater is used locally to maintain green elements such as rooftop gardens,
pocket parks and green boulevards.
The water promenade in Nordhavn is a great place to spend a
sunny day. If you get too hot, cool off inside, where seawater in
the district cooling system holds temperatures down. Or, bring
your swimsuit and dive into the clean harbour water. Soak up
the warmth from the rocks situated in the water resembling
Swedish skerries
13 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
NORDHAVN
This city is made
for walking
The area is designed on a five-minute-city principle.
Short distances from housing and workplaces to public
transport, bicycle paths, green areas, public institutions
and shops provide resource efficiency and an interesting,
inviting and lively urban landscape.
It takes five minutes to walk
four hundred metres. Installing
conveniences such as shopping
and public transport within this
distance promotes walking and
cycling.
Little Venice. Nordhavn is a district of small islets with kilometres of
coastline. It is characterised by houseboats, water sports, canals, harbour
buses, a water pocket park, artificial islands, a marina, a harbour bath and
direct access to water from the boardwalks. If you arrive by sea, you will
see the neighbourhood. It is also home to the dock for cruise ships. When
the cruise ships dock at Copenhagen they no longer pose the same environmental hazard as before. Previously, cruise ships burned diesel while
in port to generate power – but today the shore to ship system provides
cleaner energy from power plants and wind turbines of the city.
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ARCHITECTURE
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17 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
If you rent a bike, make
sure you ride over the
Two Tower Bridge at
Marble Pier and the
point of Langelinie.
Cycling 65 metres above
sea level while ferries
pass beneath you is an
unforgetable experience,
and shows you to what
lengths – and heights
– this city will go for its
bikes.
1,800 employees work in UN City – a state-of-theart sustainable building that opened in 2013. The
building has solar panels on the roof, is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold
certified and an EU Green Building Partner. Due to
security concerns, it is situated on its own island.
18 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Explore business opportunities in the biggest urban development
project in Northern Europe.
Nordhavn is still under construction, and the city is looking for business partners within smart energy, shore-to-ship technology, electric
cars, district cooling, street lighting, smart houses and geothermal
energy.
When completed in 2060, Nordhavn will be home for 40,000
residents and another 40,000 workers. In 2060, the green loop –
containing a super bicycle path and public transport – connects all of
Nordhavn’s neighbourhoods, enabling cyclists to get to their destinations quickly.
Meet the
Copenhagener
Name: Noah Adamsen
‘‘
Age: 36. Occupation: Project Manager, UNICEF
How do you get around Copenhagen?
I bike almost all year round. I love the trip
along the waterfront from my home in Islands
Brygge to UN City. Often, I have meetings
around town and go by bike as well. If I go with one of my
colleagues who commute by car, he or she borrows one of
the company bikes. On rainy days, though, I might take the
Metro to Nordhavn and catch up on iNews. On weekends,
my family and I love to spend time in our beach house. It is
a two-hour drive from Copenhagen, so we have a weekend
subscription to a shared car service.
19 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
Tip for the business traveller
Carlsberg
Make sure you set aside a whole day to visit the Carlsberg district. Situated where the Carlsberg brewery was established and produced most of its beer for 150 years, this
“new” part of town is now a cornucopia of cultural activities, history and city life. The district is also a frontrunner
in sustainable urban planning.
Getting around Carlsberg requires nothing more than
your two feet. This part of town has been specifically designed for the locals who enjoy experiencing the labyrinthlike charm of “secret” pathways and small green parks on
foot.
Should you feel tempted to join the locals on the bike
lanes, take the Carlsberg Route, which connects the classic district of Valby with the downtown bohemian dis20 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
trict of Vesterbro. Carlsberg has an extended grid of bike
lanes, including shortcuts and passages between the
buildings, which make biking the fastest way of getting
around.
In the Carlsberg district, you will notice how modern architecture builds upon the remains of the old brewery. In
fact, 15 pct. of all the buildings in the area today date back
more than 175 years; they tell the story of how hop, yeast
and water built the foundation of one of Denmark’s largest
companies.
These buildings have been retrofitted and modified into
energy-efficient structures that today host theatres, concerts and exhibitions. All new buildings in the area have
been built to meet stringent energy requirements.
21 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
Old historic buildings combined with modern architecture surround the
public squares at Carlsberg. This combination of old and new creates an
urban atmosphere favoured by Copenhageners during night and day.
Aesthetics and
sustainability
In Copenhagen, sustainability
has in no way compromised
aesthetics – the city is as
charming as ever. When walking
around Carlsberg today, it can
be hard to spot what energy
efficiency and carbon neutrality
actually looks like. The fact is, it
is all around you.
Beneath your feet, large pipes transport hot water through the environmentally friendly district heating system,
which is connected to all buildings in the area. In the walls
surrounding you, a modern smart electric grid distributes
clean electricity from wind turbines off the coast of Copenhagen and biomass power plants in the city.
This “covert” sustainability means that creating a carbon-neutral district did not have to affect the architectural
aesthetics of the urban environment. Today district heating, clean energy and environmentally friendly transportation are such common pieces of everyday life here that
no one thinks about them.
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In the transformation from industrial use to residential
area, urban planners focused on creating life in the neighbourhood before building new houses.
Early on, Carlsberg hosted various kinds of cultural
events. This meant that by the time new residents started
moving into the area, Carlsberg was already a popular destination for culturally aware Copenhageners.
1
2
Concerts
The old Bottling Hall Tap 1 proved to be a great venue for
concerts, and quickly became one of the favourite music
venues in Copenhagen. Tap 1 is still active today – make
sure to check out the program while you are in Copenhagen.
A youth environment
Storage Cellar 3 was rebuilt into rehearsal rooms and a
student café for the local music high school Sankt Annæ.
This fostered a creative environment for the younger generations and made the Carlsberg district a big part of the
students’ everyday lives.
Art
3
23 // ARCHITECTURE
In one of the old large garage buildings, the Royal Danish
Academy of Fine Arts moved in and began hosting exhibitions from upcoming artists. When you visit Carlsberg,
stop by – you might be lucky and get a glimpse of the next
Picasso or Van Gogh.
ARCHITECTURE
Tip for the urban
planner
- Life before buildings
The Old Town
Strolling around parts of old Copenhagen in the December cold you will not only see the shimmering lights from
window decorations, you will also notice how the city rooftops are covered by a layer of snow.
The snow serves as a reminder that Christmas is around
the corner, but the fact that it remains on the roof and
doesn’t melt tells a tale of an Old Town whose buildings
have been modernised, insulated and optimised to ensure
maximum energy reduction.
Retrofitting
– an important
step towards
carbon
neutrality
On average, only 1 pct. of buildings are replaced per year.
Therefore, it wasn’t enough for Copenhagen to merely focus on energy requirements in new construction on the
path to becoming carbon neutral. The city therefore initiated numerous retrofitting initiatives for old buildings.
Retrofitting is the technique of modernising old buildings with the aim of making them more energy efficient.
It has a significant and measurable impact on energy consumption and the indoor climate in buildings.
24 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
ARCHITECTURE
25 // ARCHITECTURE
3 Key benefits
of the Copenhagen
retrofitting
initiatives
1
2
3
In Copenhagen, retrofitting alone accounts for a decrease of more than 20 pct. in heat consumption and 30
pct. in total energy consumption when comparing 2025
with 2010. Citizens save money on their energy bills without changing their lifestyle.
The average EU citizen spends 90 pct. of his time indoors. Research shows that improved day lighting and air
quality in retrofitted buildings enhances productivity and
has a positive impact on public health.
The investments in retrofitting have positively affected
the economy of the city:
Overall energy consumption in Copenhagen de
creased, raising the productivity per kWh consumed.
The construction sector experienced a much wel-
comed boost in demand for their services.
The value of retrofitted energy-efficient houses has increased, giving homeowners an economic gain.
*
*
*
26 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Make sure you visit some of the trendy old industrial areas of Copenhagen such as Carlsberg, Nordhavn and various spots along the waterfront. Here you will get the impression of a city with an authentic historical charm that
caters to the needs of a modern city focused on sustainability and livability.
In Copenhagen, the focus has shifted from primarily
the buildings to the spaces in between, too. An essential
question has been: How does the city landscape help raise
the quality of life for citizens while contributing to more
sustainable development. In other words, how do old spots
become hot spots?
This mindset has brought with it creative initiatives that
continuously find innovative uses of old city spaces for
new recreational purposes. The former industrial areas of
Carlsberg and Nordhavn serve as good examples of successful revitalization of old city districts.
Since the water in the
Copenhagen harbour
was cleaned many years
ago, several public baths
have been built along the
harbourfront, revitalising
old industrial areas and
bringing cafés and urban
life with them. One of
these harbour baths is
the Coralbath in South
Harbour
27 // ARCHITECTURE
Another interesting case is the harbour baths located
throughout Copenhagen. Many years ago, the city decided
to clean up the water in the harbour; since then, new harbour baths have sprung up all along the waterfront. Today, the harbour fronts are some of the trendiest spots in
Copenhagen. You will see couples strolling along the pier,
businessmen and women having a swim after work, and
exam-tormented students tanning while cramming in the
heart of the Danish capital.
ARCHITECTURE
Old spots
become hot spots
The Sustainable
ArchitecTOUR
– 10 must-see sites
If you want to experience
the diversity and creativity
of sustainable Copenhagen
architecture, we recommend
visiting these 10 sites. Each
of them, in their own way,
represents the innovative ideas
that have helped shape the
carbon-neutral Copenhagen of
today.
Do as Copenhageners do, hop
on a bike – all 10 sites are easily
accessed via the green bikeroutes covering town. Bring
nothing more than a bike and a
camera and prepare for a day
full of sustainability impressions.
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Start the day by enjoying a coffee and a famous Danish pastry at the
harbourfront while observing UN officials from all over the world enter UN
City to start their workday.
Besides being a remarkable architectural icon shaped in the form of a
star, UN City was one of the first buildings in Northern Europe to meet
the requirements of LEED Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design).
Not only is the entire roof covered by solar panels that harvest the energy
of the sun, but architects added rainwater tanks connected to the toilets,
ensuring that all 1,800 employees flush with rainwater.
10 AM: WATER COOLING
After enjoying the morning sun at UN City, grab your bike and ride across
the Two Tower Bridge – or The Handshake as the locals call it - to Langelinie.
Here you will find “The Warehouse,” a modern office building built after the
principles of an old warehouse – with warm-coloured bricks and windows
in varying shapes, giving the building a vivid and informal expression.
Breathe in the fresh sea breeze and enjoy the view of the water surrounding
Langelinie - and in this case water is not only pleasing to the eye. In fact,
water is used for cooling down The Warehouse during warm summer days,
as it is pumped from underground and circulated through the building.
11 AM: BOATS, KIDS AND
CARROTS
From Langelinie, continue along the bike-designated Harbour Route, which
provides a nice view of the Copenhagen harbourfront. Eventually you will
come across an unusual building that is literally dipping its toes into the
water.
This is the South Harbour School, a public elementary school with more
than 800 pupils and a special maritime focus. Besides being an elementary
school, the South Harbour School offers specialized classes in sailing and
navigation.
Take a moment to look at how the older kids sail small boats around the
harbour and learn to appreciate nature, or how the younger ones sow carrots and water them in the school’s kitchen gardens, giving them firsthand
experience in food production and ecology.
29 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
9 AM: SOLAR PANELS AND
RAINWATER FLUSHING
The ArchitecTOUR
3 PM: The Osram House
1:30 PM: Green roof terraces Birkegade
NOON: The Korsgade Sports- and Culture Centre
11 AM: The South Harbour School
8:30 PM: The Valby Water Culture Centre
30 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
9 AM: UN City
ARCHITECTURE
10 AM: The Warehouse
4 PM:
The Green
Campus
5 PM: The Arsenal
6 PM:
Islands Brygge
31 // ARCHITECTURE
NOON: LUNCH ON THE HILL
From the South Harbour School, bike paths lead you through bohemian
Vesterbro to the Lake Route, following the scenic Copenhagen lakes. Close
to the third lake, you’ll come to the next stop: Korsgade, a small local street
in Nørrebro.
Opening hours MondayThursday: 7.50AM-11PM,
Friday: 7.50AM-9PM.
Feeling hungry? Grab a sandwich and enjoy lunch on an urban green hill.
The citizens of dense Nørrebro wanted both a recreational spot and a sports
and culture centre. With free space scarce, architects had to be creative.
The result is found underneath your feet. The Korsgade Sports and Culture
Centre literally “grows” out of the ground, forming a green hill. Sports
courts are inside; a green roof and walls on the outside offer locals a place
to relax and enjoy themselves in the sun, or for kids to go sledding down in
the winter. The green roof is also an efficient climate adaptation, insulating
against extreme heat and cold, and collecting excess rainwater, which
relieves the sewage system during heavy rains.
1:30 PM: GREEN ROOF
When biking through the streets of Nørrebro in the afternoon we would
usually urge you to watch the traffic on the road. However, also make sure
you look up every once in a while – you just might be lucky and spot one
of the attractive green roof terraces. One of the most remarkable ones is
found not far from Korsgade, in Birkegade.
When the roof of a local apartment building started leaking and needed
renovation, residents decided they wanted more than just a new roof –
they wanted better and greener conditions for their children in the densely
populated neighbourhood.
The solution came in the form of a 490-square-metre roof terrace containing a small playground, a green hill and an observation post, giving visitors
a panoramic view of the Copenhagen skyline. Residents now have a place
to enjoy the outdoors away from the busy streets below.
3 PM: DAYLIGHT INSTEAD OF
LIGHT BULBS
Continue your trip on the wide, pleasant bike paths of Nørrebro towards
the Osram House.
Opening hours MondayFriday 9AM-10PM, make
sure to book tour in
advance.
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A characteristic of Copenhageners is how much they enjoy spending time
outside in the sun during summer. The next stop on the tour is an experiment in how much of the sun’s natural light can be brought indoors.
Today, energy-efficient windows, skylights and glass walls ensure optimal
exploitation of daylight and create natural heating of the building through
sunlight. Note how electronic displays in the building, which functions as
a neighbourhood cultural centre for nearby residents, present the energy
consumption in an easily readable manner, making it simple and motivating
for users to track and improve their environmental impact.
4 PM: AN INSPIRING STUDENT
ENVIRONMENT
In the afternoon, stop by the science faculty campus at the University
of Copenhagen, in the corner of the University Park, and experience the
vibrant student environment. The Green Campus initiatives started many
years ago ensure that today sustainable thinking is an integrated part of all
academic programmes and the students’ daily lives.
A tangible example of the sustainable thinking is The Green Lighthouse, a
university building built in 2009 as a result of a successful public-private
partnership between governmental institutions and private partners. It was
also the first public carbon neutral building in Copenhagen.
To book a tour of the
Green Light House go to
www.greenlighthouse.
ku.dk
Inspired by a sundial, the building’s shape ensures maximum exploitation of
sunlight, giving a sun lit, inspiring environment for students. Furthermore,
sunlight has been carefully incorporated into the building’s energy system
through solar panels, and excess solar energy is stored as heat underground to be used later when the sun is weaker or at night.
5 PM: SUSTAINABLE
PRESERVATION
From the youthful student environment, we now bike back to the harbour
and through history.
In the late afternoon sun, the yellow buildings of the old military installation
“The Arsenal” look pretty as ever. Built in 1740, these buildings for many
years served as part of Copenhagen’s defences and today represent a city
landmark. The buildings underwent comprehensive renovation in 2012,
which lowered the energy consumption by 20 pct.
Being a historic landmark under protection of the National Heritage
Agency, the key to retrofitting the buildings was making inconspicuous
changes. Besides new energy-efficient windows, one of the creative ideas
was to store heat-emitting electronic equipment in an old underground
bunker, ensuring a pleasant climate in the offices inside.
Take a stroll around the buildings and enjoy how a city does not have to
lose its historical value to become sustainable.
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ARCHITECTURE
The only light bulb factory ever to exist in Denmark, the Osram House
was an iconic choice for a case study in how much of a building’s energy
consumption could be displaced by daylight.
6 PM: DINNER IN THE OLD
COMMERCIAL HARBOUR
The Long Bridge close to The Arsenal will take you to Islands Brygge. On
a summer evening, make sure not to miss the vibrant atmosphere of this
historic commercial harbour, which many years ago was revitalized and
became a hip part of town. We recommend enjoying a barbeque with local
Copenhageners, with the two old soy-cake silos as background.
Being part of the cultural and industrial heritage of Copenhagen, it was decided that these two silos should remain after commercial activities in the
harbour ended. They were transformed into residential buildings. Worth
noting is how the apartments are “hanging” on the outside of the silos, giving them an iconic look while staying true to their industrial history.
Arrive early in the evening to find a spot for your barbeque; this place is a
favourite spot for Copenhageners during the long summer evenings.
8:30 PM: TIME FOR
SUSTAINABLE WELLNESS
What better way to end a day of biking around town than by treating yourself to a visit to the spa?
Our tour concludes at the Valby Water Culture Centre, which was early
proof that sustainability did not have to come at the expense of well-being.
The Centre houses an indoor swimming pool area with room for play and
relaxation – and caters to the well-being of visitors in a sustainable manner.
Opening hours Monday,
Wednesday and Friday
until 9.30PM.
While relaxing in the hot water, note how the walls of the building are tilted
inward. This, with the solar panels on the roof, ensures maximum reflection
of cold wind and efficient use of sunlight to heat the building. These measures, combined with recycling of excess heat from shower water to heat
the pool area, enables the Valby Water Culture Centre to consume 30 pct.
less energy than comparable swimming facilities.
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Danes love to enjoy the sun. However, being a northern
country, the annual number of sunshine hours is limited.
The architects and urban specialists who designed Carlsberg knew that high density was essential to create lively
neighbourhoods. But they also wanted to make room for
sunlight in the district. They found inspiration in an oldfashioned sun clock.
After carefully studying the path of the sun, parks and
squares were located just like the hours on a sun clock. At
any time, residents can find shaded areas to cool down or
spots to enjoy the sun.
9 AM
4 PM
The parks and squares of Carlsberg are carefully located according to the
sun’s path over the sky. Enjoy the morning sun in one park, and the evening
sun in another. This is also a great excuse for seeing various corners of the
neighbourhood.
35 // ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
Urban planning
– the Sun Clock
model
PEOPLE AND
CULTURE
Population
growth of
Copenhagen,
People living in
Copenhagen,
thousands.
When visiting Copenhagen,
make sure you observe
the locals. They are central
to the city’s identity, and
the personification of the
Copenhagen sustainable lifestyle.
640
535
2010
2025
Copenhageners are curious and open towards new initiatives, and have many times taken it upon themselves to
come up with innovative new ways of living. In aspects covering food to fashion and exercise, many Copenhageners
have embraced sustainability and the green way of living.
36 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
facts about
Copenhagen
640,000
GMT
+ 1 hour
Time zone
Free
Bike rental price
Best view in Copenhagen
From the
Two Tower
Bridge
Grab one of the public bikes
Read more in the Architecture chapter
Best way to annoy a
Copenhagener
Average yearly household
spending on bikes
DKK 1,190
Average living
area per person
37 // PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Walk on the
bike lanes
44m2
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Population
MEET THE LOCALS
– CHARACTERISTICS OF A
COPENHAGENER
1
COPENHAGENERS
ARE FINDERS AND
KEEPERS
The Danes are a tribe of finders and keepers. Are you
looking to update your favorite chair, or do you need that
special little gizmo for your electrical device? When walking around in Copenhagen you will encounter shops selling
spare parts from bikes to electronics and even furniture.
Urban mining is also big business, as valuable materials are harvested from old electronics. Fifteen years ago,
Danes were the second-largest waste producers in the EU.
But the financial crash turned past trends of happily using
and throwing things out into a new mindset of finding and
keeping.
Even the fashionistas of Copenhagen have embraced the
concept of finding and keeping. New designers are making clothing that will last years instead of seasons. This
doesn’t mean being boring, but sticking with what Copenhagen designers are famous for: the design, the materials
and the edgy yet elegant Scandinavian feel.
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PEOPLE & CULTURE
2
Organic food
served in public
institutions, pct.
90
68
2010
2015
39 // PEOPLE AND CULTURE
COPENHAGENERS
ARE LOCAVORES
Copenhageners are crazy about local food. So, if you are
a foodie, try eating local.
Copenhagen restaurant Noma, the No. 1 restaurant in
the world, started an international trend when they popularised the concept of local food, in 2003 – serving food
made entirely from the Nordic countries. A region known
for anything but food. Saving carbon by eating an apple instead of a mango that has been transported from the other
end of the world is now common sense. Community gardens, farmers markets and a renewed focus on personal
health and organic, locally produced food has become a
part of everyday life and habits. As early as 2012, 77 pct.
of public institutions, from daycare centres to retirement
homes, served only organic food.
If you want to eat like a local, try an App – Locavore –
which tells you what veggies are in season and grown in
your area. It also shares recipes that you don’t have to be a
Michelin Star chef to prepare.
3
COPENHAGENERS
ARE
EXERCISOHOLICS
Each year, at the end of May, thousands of Copenhageners
participate in the Green Marathon. The Green Marathon is a
42 kilometre track that never loses touch with the green elements of the city. It runs within the city boundaries along
tree-filled boulevards, and through many of Copenhagen’s
green parks. When September comes, even more people
gather for the DHL run – a 5-km route on which companies
compete against each other. It is not unusual for more than
100,000 people to participate in this event.
Besides running, Copenhagen-based companies also engage in bike-to-work campaigns encouraging employees to
bike to work through inter-organisational competitions.
Last, exercising is even considered an accepted treatment method – and the local doctor might prescribe a paid
gym membership rather than medication to improve your
health.
40 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Guerrilla Gardening
4
COPENHAGENERS
ARE URBAN
GARDENERS
Previously, living in downtown Copenhagen would have
precluded the option of having a garden, but not anymore.
Urban gardens have sprung up all over town, and Copenhageners are enjoying spending ever-more time maintaining them. These gardens are for present generations what
summer cabins were to generations before – a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Today, urban gardens can be found in many variants
and at many altitudes – some between buildings, some on
balconies and some atop roofs. To Copenhageners, these
gardens represent a personal desire to mix the chic urban
life with green living – despite living in the city, you can
still grow your own carrots and tomatoes.
41 // PEOPLE AND CULTURE
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Ever wonder why flowers grow in the strangest places in Copenhagen?
There is a fair chance that this could be the result of the phenomenon
known as “urban guerrilla gardening.” This modern graffiti is conducted
by preparing so-called “seed bombs,” and then venturing into the night
to sow them in small cracks in the street, or on empty spaces of dirt.
This phenomenon has become increasingly common in the city over
the years; you can even find small underground movements doing it
together.
5
COPENHAGENERS
ARE COMPUTER
SAVVY
Studies show that Danes rank in the top 3 of the most
IT-literate countries in the world. Dealing with computers
is no longer just for work and play.
One time at which Copenhageners have embraced modern technology is when they are sick. Instead of leaving
home when they are ill and perhaps not as mobile, telemedicine can offer patients better and more cost-efficient
medical treatment while cutting emissions. Copenhageners, young and old, now talk to their doctor in front of their
web camera, and measure their blood pressure, pulse and
weight with the data transferred directly to their doctors.
Telemedicine not only saves Copenhageners multiple
visits to the doctor, research shows that it leads to fewer
hospital visits and saves hundreds of tons of carbon.
42 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
PEOPLE & CULTURE
6
COPENHAGENERS
ARE
TRUSTING
Twenty-five years ago, a now-famous global study was
conducted. Scientists left 1,100 wallets on the streets of
33 countries. Each wallet contained up to $50 in local currency together with the name and address of the wallet’s
owner. In every country but two, the money disappeared.
In Denmark and Norway, all of the wallets were returned –
with the money intact.
The study illustrates why Danes are considered among the
world’s most trusting people. Danes avoid transaction costs
because trust replaces written agreements, and reducing
the number of expensive legal cases. Danes also have great
trust in their government and are positive towards publicprivate partnerships and triple helix models (see Economy
chapter). Trust also makes it is easier for the public sector to
marshal agreement for new projects and goals.
43 // PEOPLE AND CULTURE
7
COPENHAGENERS
LOVE THEIR BIKES
Copenhageners are born and raised into a biking culture. As kids, many Copenhageners are carried on a parent’s bike – either in one of the famous Christiania cargobikes or in a children’s seat on the back.
A few years later, kids are for the first time set free on
their own two wheels – usually in one of the many pocket
parks all over town. By the time these young Copenhageners start school, most are confident enough in biking that
they bike the short route between home and school each
day.
This culture explains why more than 50 pct. of Copenhageners commute to work or school by bike. When asked
whether they might consider buying a car, many Copenhageners simply reply “What would I need a car for? I’ve
always biked everywhere. Biking is a much faster and more
convenient way of getting around.”
4 4 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Bike like a
Copenhagener
Smile. Cyclists are more likely to experience enjoyment than bus riders
or car drivers.
2
Insist that your cargo bike can hold your two kids, dog and groceries for
an entire week – and prove yourself right.
3
Secretly pity people driving SUVs around town. A year’s worth of parking
fees will easily cost them more than the price of your bike. Not to mention
the time spared on searching for vacant parking spots.
4
Practice a facial expression mixing lenience and slight annoyance for
when people step in front of you on the bike lane without looking.
5
Signal anticipated actions. Point to the right or left if you plan to turn;
raise your hand if you plan to stop. If others fail to do the same, apply step 4.
6
Expect to live longer. Half-hour of daily cycling increases life expectancy
by 1-2 years.
7
Remember to look great. In Copenhagen, cycle chic is always in style.
Bikes are no excuse to leave the suit or cocktail dress at home.
8
Familiarise yourself with cyclist shortcuts: cross the water on bike bridges, cycle both ways on one-way-streets and go right on red.
9
Make the 2-kilometre trip from the Nørrebro Runddel to Nørreport in 6
minutes flat. Don´t worry, the cycle super-highway and green wave ensures
an effortless average speed of 20 kilometres per hour.
10
Develop a secret crush on your bike. Longing to be close to it will make
you want to sit next to it on the train.
45 // PEOPLE AND CULTURE
PEOPLE & CULTURE
1
VISITING THE COPENHAGEN SMART HOME
Imagine coming home and the lights turn on automatically, the temperature is perfect; the washing machine is
already done cleaning your clothes, the apartment is full
of fresh air and best of all; everything has happened with
minimum environmental impact. Retrofitted buildings
with new windows, new insulation and modern technology is the reality of the Copenhagen smart home.
The smart home not only tracks the consumption of the
resident, it also ensures that energy usage is always as efficient as possible, while not forcing people to change their
lifestyles. Residents tell their smart home how “green” they
want to be, and it will guide them through their options.
In many ways, the smart home is an energy butler making
homes as energy efficient as possible.
Energy
and
Heating
The building receives its
outside energy supply
from wind farms off the
coast of the city and
from second-generation
biomass facilities. Heating is supplied through
the district heating
system, where excess
heat from biomass and
waste-burning facilities
is transported to homes.
Water basin
A water basin next to the building
collects rainwater for use in toilets
and washing machines. An average citizen uses 33 litres each day
to flush the toilet and 19 litres for
washing clothes. Instead of using
pure drinking water for these
purposes, a big portion is replaced
by the rainwater.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
A shared electric car is parked in front of the apartment building, which is
attached to a local charging station integrated into the building. The car is
shared by the building’s residents, as is the electric bike pump that makes
it easy and convenient for residents to keep their bikes ready for the road.
46 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Windows
Windows facing north are thicker and more heavily insulated to keep out the cold while windows facing
south are thinner to allow natural heating from the sun. Skylights ensure maximum exploitation of daylight in buildings – following the mantra “daylight instead of light bulbs.”
Green walls, green roofs and even rooftop gardens are a natural
part of building design in Copenhagen. The benefits of greening
buildings are manifold: added insulation, reduced stormwater
runoff, absorption of air pollutants, natural habitat for birds,
bees and butterflies, and green recreational spots for Copenhageners.
Smartpanel
A Smartpanel just outside the building entrance shows the
energy, water and heat consumption of the whole building. This
allows for easy tracking of the energy efficiency of an apartment
block, and is used for community energy-saving initiatives. For
Copenhageners, there is a certain amount of pride in being
energy efficient.
Solar
colleCtors,
AND photovoltaics
Rooftop solar panels in Copenhagen are a mix of solar collectors
heating water for the buildings
and photovoltaic panels providing
electricity. During hours of excess
demand, solar power is supplemented by wind farms or biomass
facilities. Conversely, during times
when solar power systems are
producing a surplus, electricity
is sold back into the grid or heat
is stored by modern heat pumps
under the building for later usage.
LED
lighting
LED lighting ensures that
the home is consuming
minimal energy from
lighting. Furthermore,
sensors built into lamps
in each room control the
need for lighting based
on: occupancy in the
room, type of activity in
the room (e.g. reading or
watching a movie), and
the amount of daylight in
the room.
47 // PEOPLE AND CULTURE
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Green roofs
GETTING
AROUND
City of cyclists
Going the
distance:
Copenhageners
combined bike a
day, mill. km.
1.5
1.2
Perhaps the biggest thrill you can experience in Copenhagen is joining the hordes of cyclists on Copenhagen’s
busiest bike corridor during the morning commute. Thousands of cyclists pass here every day – businessmen in
suits, kids in cargo bikes, women in stilettos and couples
in love.
For Copenhageners, bicycles are the most popular form
of transport. Fifty percent of trips in Copenhagen are made
by bike – a world record, and part of the reason why Copenhagen achieved carbon neutrality this year.
0.8
1995
A young couple riding side-by-side talks intimately while
a large group of businessmen pedals past at full speed in
the fast lane of the bicycle super highway on Nørrebrogade. The intelligent traffic control system detects the front
of the large group of cyclists and switches the light at the
upcoming intersection to green.
‘09
2025
The environment is not the main reason for the popularity of the bike. For most, it is the transportation of choice
simply because it is the fastest and the cheapest way to
get around.
48 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Bicycle trips a year in copenhagen
240.000
200.000
160.000
GETTING AROUND
120.000
80.000
40.000
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2025
Copenhagen has
designed the city to
make people happy
- not cars
49 // GETTING AROUND
N
GE
NIN
ØN
GR
SØ
LV
GA
DE
aden
Esplan
E
AD
The bridge over the inner harbour opened in X and is one of
BRE
The bridge over
GO the inner
THE
harbour is one of
the
RSG
AD
many bridges in CopenE
hagen designed for
bicycles and pedestrians
only.
DG
KO
NG
EN
S GA
DE
E
AD
DG
ST.
ØS
TE
RV
OL
NEFITS OF GETTING
ROUND COPENHAGEN
BIKE
The Royal
Palace
Kongens
Nytorv
The Royal
Danish
Playhouse
The
Opera
The National
Film School
Christiansborg
h
Fr.
al
an
sK
olm
Christiania
50 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Benefits of getting
around Copenhagen
by bike
2
3
4
5
6
Increases your quality of life. Cyclists are more
likely to experience enjoyment from their rides
than do bus passengers or car drivers.
Reduces traffic jams and congestion.
Reduces noise.
Reduces the cost of accidents and wear and tear
on infrastructure.
Improves air quality and atmosphere in the city.
Combined – accounting for the total cost of air pollution,
accidents, congestion – the city saves 0.06 € for every kilometre travelled by bike instead of by car.
51 // GETTING AROUND
GETTING AROUND
1
Increases your life expectancy. According to the
British Medical Association, a half-hour of cycling
daily increases mean life expectancy by 1-2 years.
Tip FOR the business traveller
Networks exist for businesses and institutions working with bicycles.
Contact: The Cycle Secretariat at the City of Copenhagen at
www.kk.dk/cityofcyclists. Or the Cycling Embassy of Denmark at
www.cycling-embassy.dk
Faster, smarter,
safer, further
Copenhageners
prefer the bike:
Daily commuters
going to work
and places of
education by
bike, pct.
50
35
2010
Dedicated and prolonged efforts have improved the conditions for cyclists in the city. Shortcuts have been created
across water and over railroads and squares, enabling bikes
to beat cars on several routes. Special “green wave” traffic
lights allow cyclists to trigger green lights when travelling
at a certain speed. Bikes, unlike cars, are allowed to turn
right on red and travel both ways on one-way streets. Extra-wide bicycle tracks have been created – 80 pct. of the
most popular bicycle routes have three lanes – so overtaking even cycling couples holding hands is no trouble.
Because of these efforts, the average travel time for cyclists has been reduced by 15 pct. since 2010. Bicycle tracks
are kept in good condition, people feel safe on bikes, and
accidents have been reduced by 70 pct. in the past 20 years.
Only 10-15 years ago, cycling to work was reserved for
those fortunate to live close to the office. Today, bike rides
of 10-20 kilometres are not just for athletes. A combination
of electrically assisted bikes and bicycle highways has extended what is possible for two-wheeled commuters.
2025
52 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Over the past 20 years, Copenhagen has topped the
rankings when it comes to livability. All of the surveys cite
the city´s bike culture as one of the reasons.
For Copenhageners, the road to improved quality of life
is best travelled on a low-cost, healthy, safe transportation
alternative that provides easy parking and offers fast and
direct transportation from A to B.
53 // GETTING AROUND
GETTING AROUND
Bikes are
Convenient +
Safe +
Easy to park +
Low cost +
Low noise +
Better for your
health
= Giving you a higher
quality of life
Getting around
– e-mobility
Remember to look both ways when stepping out from
curbs toward the street in Copenhagen. Electric cars are
surprisingly quiet and are increasingly part of the vehicle
fleet in the city.
Electric vehicles – or EVs – make life in the city more
livable and sustainable. Fewer Copenhageners experience
noise- and pollution-related health problems, and the cars
function as a giant battery for renewable energy in the city.
Around 10 pct. of the private vehicle fleet in Copenhagen
is electric, hybrids or running on biofuels or hydrogen. For
the City of Copenhagen fleet, the figure is 85 pct. Large vehicles such as garbage trucks are increasingly running on
anything but diesel.
Tip
Copenhagen Clean Cab:
One way to experience
the sound of silence
while getting around in
Copenhagen is to hail
one of the city’s many EV
taxis. Notice the energyefficient behaviour of the
drivers – as eco-driving
courses are mandatory.
Several factors explain the popularity of these cars.
Green cars were exempt from the hefty Danish car tax,
and free parking existed for electric vehicles when they
first appeared. Today, taxes on cars are linked to the level
of pollution. All municipal tendering and procurement
have fossil-free transportation demands. City zones for
green cars only are established. Equally important, the
range of most EVs is 300 kilometres – far more than the
average daily commute.
The fleet of electric vehicles in Copenhagen functions
as a giant distributed battery allowing the city to make
the most of the renewable energy. Most electric cars are
charged at night, when wind turbines often generate surplus power. Energy is retrieved from the batteries during
peak-demand hours to meet the daytime power needs of
Copenhagen. (See Shopping chapter)
54 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
A Danish fairytale
Princess Evie and
the Knight of Wind
GETTING AROUND
Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Denmark, the
Knight of Wind was loved by the people as he would often
help them cook their food and wash their clothes.
But on stormy nights – when he wanted to help the
most – no one needed him and no bed existed in which the
Knight of Wind could rest. This left him exhausted by the
next morning, when the people needed him once again. So
the people were forced to burn oil – even though they had
very little of it left – to cook and wash their clothes.
Then, one stormy night, a princess arrived; a princess by
the name of Evie. That night, the Knight of Wind was once
again weary and looking for a place to rest. When the fair
princess saw this, she offered him a large battery on which
he could sleep.
The next morning, the knight had slept well and was full
of energy. All day and every day thereafter, he would help
the people wash their clothes, cook their food and drive
their cars. And Princess Evie and the Knight of Wind lived
happily ever after.
55 // GETTING AROUND
Tip
Most car owners charge
their EVs at home, but
due to a national action
plan for EV infrastructure, you can also charge
at stations throughout
Copenhagen. Most hotels and some car parks
also feature charging
stations.
A vacation
destination
– for your
ears, heart and
lungs
Today, because of the popularity of e-mobility, bicycles,
public transportation and ambitious environmental policies – such as environmental zones – Copenhagen enjoys
reduced traffic noise and pollution.
However, only 20 years ago, a two-hour bicycle ride during rush hour in Copenhagen, could be detected in your
blood. Particles from traffic and woodstoves accounted for
hundreds of premature deaths each year in the city. In fact,
more people died because of air pollution than in road accidents.
Today, fewer people suffer from health problems such
as hearing loss, lung cancer, asthma, stress, heart disease
and sleep disruption caused by pollution.
56 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Getting Around
– by public
transportation
Number of
passengers
travelling on the
metro per year,
millions
130
52
34
2004
2010
2018
Buses arrive on time and at frequent intervals, transfer
stations are easy to navigate, and an integrated ticket system allows you to transfer between Metro, train and bus
– on land and water.
All stations feature intelligent information systems – offering riders transit and real-time arrival information for
easy use of different modes of transit. Stops are easily recognizable, featuring the same red and white symbol – for
the Metro, trains or buses. Notice how the Metro stations
are designed to allow natural light to shine below ground
– creating a pleasant, well-lit setting and achieving energy
and maintenance savings.
Besides allowing hassle-free transportation, the transit
system is also cited as a reason for Copenhagen’s impressive air quality. A large share of the buses in the city run on
alternative fuels such as electricity or biofuels. These efforts have reduced the carbon emissions of the bus service
in the city by 70 pct. in the last 15 years.
Tip for the traveller – BIKE ON BOARD
We recommend that you experience Copenhagen by bike, which can
easily be combined with public transport. Bring your bike onboard
trains for free. In especially designed bicycle compartments, you will
find bicycle pumps to inflate your tires. The City of Copenhagen works
continuously to improve the bike-public transportation connection as
an attractive alternative to cars.
57 // GETTING AROUND
GETTING AROUND
Don’t bother hailing a cab when you arrive at Copenhagen Airport. The Metro will take you to the heart of the
city in 14 minutes. Use this time to get acquainted with the
extensive public transit system in Copenhagen.
Quality – above
and below
When planning and designing larger infrastructure
projects in the Capital, there is a great opportunity to use
the project to enhance neighbourhoods at the same time.
Therefore citizen involvement is encouraged. In order to
increase the quality of the area above the metro stations,
locals were involved in the design of the cityscape.
The metro stations in Copenhagen, are designed to ensure maximum
usage of daylight. Furthermore, they are designed to blend in well with
the surroundings. Here we see the Metro station at City Hall Square.
58 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
The CITY ring
Trianglen
Nørrebros Runddel
Østerbro
Frederiksberg
Nørreport
Vanløse
Kgs. Nytorv
Enghave Plads
Airport
Vest Amager
Meet the
Copenhagener
Name: Oliver Bech
‘‘
Age: 40. Occupation: Bus driver
Do you have a green job?
I actually never considered whether my job is
green or not, but it is green– very green. I’m a
bus driver in the city driving a bus that runs
100 pct. on electricity, there is no exhaust, no particles polluting the air and no gasoline consumption. The amount of
traffic in the city centre has been steadily declining over
the past 10 years; there are almost no large trucks left here
– my job has never been easier.
When my day is over, the bus is hooked up to the city
electric grid, feeding it with energy from the wind turbines
off the coast of Copenhagen – I guess I truly have a true
zero-emission job! The best part is that the more efficiently
I drive, the larger is my bonus.
59 // GETTING AROUND
GETTING AROUND
The Metro City Ring (the
blue line) opened in 2018
and knits the capital
even closer together.
Getting from Østerbro (Trianglen) to the
Generation Z stronghold
at Vesterbro (Enghave
Plads) is a 10-minute
ride. From Vesterbro,
you can get to vibrant
Nørrebro (Nørrebros
Runddel) in 6 minutes.
Right next to the Metro,
you’ll find Hans Christian
Andersen’s final resting place at Assistens
Cemetery.
Nordhavn
ENVIRONMENT
Bike lanes in
Copenhagen,
km
482
369
240
1980
2010 2025
THE GREEN
AND BLUE
COPENHAGEN
A unique attribute of Copenhagen is how the city has
successfully managed to create an urban environment
that combines functional, sustainable and wonderful.
During the past 15 years, targeted investments in a greener and better urban landscape have helped develop a city
that not only is green, but also enhances the quality of life
of its citizens.
When visiting the city during spring, it becomes obvious that for Copenhageners spending time outside equals
the good life. Notice how, as soon as daytime temperatures
pass 10 degrees Celsius, parks, sidewalk cafes and city
squares are richly populated by Copenhageners enjoying
60 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
ENVIRONMENT
the sunshine and making up for the winter’s lack of vitamin D.
To accommodate this need to get outdoors, the city offers Copenhageners a multitude of recreational areas to
choose from. Since 2015, Copenhagen has vowed to ensure
that at least 90 pct. of its residents can reach a recreational
area on foot in less than 15 minutes. Today, small parks
known as pocket parks, harbour baths and green roofs can
be found all over town offering a diverse variety of recreational experiences for Copenhageners and visitors alike.
Dive into the urban environment of Green and Blue Copenhagen.
61 // ENVIRONMENT
THE GREEN
COPENHAGEN
- POCKET PARKS,
GREEN ROOFS & URBAN
RECREATIONAL SPOTS
Green areas in
Copenhagen:
Copenhageners
that live within
15 min walking
distance of a
public park, pct.
90
63
2010
With a population that has increased by more than a
100,000 during the past 15 years, Copenhagen doesn’t offer
much room to create new big parks and recreational areas.
Therefore, two new phenomena, inspired by cities such as
New York and Zürich, emerged in the city: green roofs and
pocket parks.
A pocket park is a small urban green spot usually located adjacent to surrounding streets. It is a spot where Copenhageners meet, drink a take-away coffee, play sports,
or simply just take a break from the fast-paced city life.
Each of the 14 pocket parks in Copenhagen has distinct
characteristics – ranging from green and flowery gardens
to a parkour playground for urban youngsters. The common denominator for the parks is that they were transformed from unused urban spaces to green spots bringing together Copenhageners. They are great places to kick
back and watch the Copenhagen way of life.
2015
62 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Besides the 14 pocket parks, Copenhagen has a number of green bicycle
routes enabling Copenhageners to easily reach recreational areas.
Pocket park
Green bicycle route
Poul
Henningsens
plads
ENVIRONMENT
Glente plads
Odinsgade
Hillerødgade
Vanløse skole
Stengade
Tove
Ditlevsens
plads
Dantes
plads
Reventlowsgade
Gadekæret
Litauens
plads
Cirklen
Ved siloerne
63 // ENVIRONMENT
Majporten
Besides pocket parks, Copenhagen has sought to improve the conditions
of existing urban squares, turning them into recreational spots. Israel’s
Square, in downtown Copenhagen, for instance, was once a worn-out
square. Today it flourishes, with Copenhageners enjoying sports facilities,
and it completes the corridor between Ørsted Park and the Botanical
Garden.
64 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
ENVIRONMENT
65 // ENVIRONMENT
Copenhagen
and the Urban
Heat Island
effect
– INSIDE TIP FOR URBAN
PLANNERS
The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon that occurs when black roofs and grey pavement absorb and then
release heat that raises the ambient temperature in the
immediate area. In 2003, research conducted in London
showed temperature differences of up to 10 degrees Celcius between rural and urban areas due to the urban “heat
island” effect.
Despite only occurring seldom in Denmark, these extra degrees result in overheated buildings and exacerbate
summer heat waves, making homes, workplaces and public transport uncomfortable. Furthermore, increased temperatures have a significant impact on the health of citizens – especially the elderly. Lastly, higher temperatures
raise the demand for artificial, energy-consuming cooling
such as air-conditioning.
In Copenhagen, several solutions have been implemented which amongst other things help minimizing the urban
heat island effect:
Green roof gardens on the buildings of Copenhagen have
significantly lowered the heat storing capacity of buildings in the city as excess heat is vaporized by water in the
plants.
Leaves on trees and plants absorb heat from the sun by
vaporizing some of the water they contain during the summer. Copenhagen’s many trees and green walls contribute
to keeping temperatures down
66 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
The more plentiful green areas in Copenhagen help keep temperatures down in summers with heat waves.
Green open areas generally have lower temperatures and higher humidity than paved parts of the city. And
if parks are elevated compared to the surroundings, cooler air from the parks will during night time “tumble” downhill into surrounding neighbourhoods, pushing hot air upwards – nature’s own air-conditioning.
– GREEN OVER GREY
Historically, Copenhagen has been a city of green roofs.
Many of the official historic buildings – Parliament, the
Stock Exchange and churches – were built with copper
roofs, which due to patina, turned green over time.
However, the green roofs of “modern” Copenhagen tell
a very different story. As the population grew and density
increased, new ways of bringing ”green” into the city had
to be found – a vision of green over grey was born. The first
green roof gardens were built 15 years ago, when it was
decided that all new buildings with flat roofs should have
gardens. Since then, many have followed. When looking at
Copenhagen from above today, you can spot hundreds of
small rooftop gardens all over town.
Being a city in the north, Copenhagen experiences its
fair share of heavy showers and snow storms. Green roofs
do not just make the city look pretty, they provide several
advantages. They collect precipitation, minimize the urban “heat island” effect and extend the life of the roof significantly, as plants and dirt protect against UV radiation,
wind and water.
67 // ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
Copenhagen
roof gardens
The Urban
Green Corridor
Although many rooftop parks are private, some of the
most interesting ones are open to the public. One worth
visiting is the Urban Green Corridor at Kalvebod Brygge.
Stretching across the roofs of The National Archives, a
bank headquarters and a 4-star hotel, this flowery corridor
for pedestrians and cyclists is a green short-cut, providing
Copenhageners with an alternative to the car-filled streets.
The Urban Green Corridor was a forerunner within the
green-over-grey vision, inspired by the High Line in New
York, and shows how to optimize the usage of urban space
in a busy metropolis.
Bees in the city
When walking around Copenhagen, you might spot bees
flying from roof to roof cross-pollinating garden flowers.
This used to be a rare sight in Copenhagen, but the green
roofs have provided habitat for more insects, bees among
them. There are even examples of apartment co-ops hosting beehives and harvesting the delicious Copenhagen
Honey.
68 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
THE BLUE
COPENHAGEN
PROMENADES AND HARBOUR SWIMMING
Previously, the Copenhagen harbourfront was dominated by commercial districts that divided the city between
the “mainland” and the island of Amager. Today, this area
has been revitalized with green promenades, harbour
swimming pools and cafés that bring Copenhageners living on both sides of the water together.
The harbour in Copenhagen wasn’t always clean. At one
time, it was considered a health hazard to go for a swim in
it. Like many other big cities around the world, the harbour
functioned as a back up when sewers flooded. More than
100 overflow channels fed wastewater into the harbour.
The key to revitalizing the harbour was closing the overflow channels and constructing underground delay pools
capable of easing the pressure on the sewage system during heavy rains.
Feel like cooling off
on hot summer days?
Look for the lollipopcoloured towers along
the harbour marking a
public swimming pool,
and feel free to take
a swim in the clean
Copenhagen waters.
The swimming pool
on Islands Brygge was
the first of these and
opened in 2002.
69 // ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
The first Copenhagen harbour swimming pool opened
in 2002 at Islands Brygge. It quickly became a huge success. Visit on a hot summer day and you will find families,
students and businessmen alike enjoying the promenade
and the water – enjoying the best of the green and the blue
Copenhagen.
3
Swimming
possibilities
4
Harbour
swimming
pool
Urban
beach
Winter
swimming
facility
1
2
5 blue
hot spots of
Copenhagen
Today, you can walk down Copenhagen Harbour along
promenades stretching all the way from the Valby Beach in
the south to UN City in the north. Several public harbour
pool areas offer you a place to cool down in the water, or
enjoy a coffee at shore.
70 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
1
2
Kalvebod Wave is located just across from the popular
Islands Brygge neighbourhood, and is a wave-shaped pier.
Here, kayak-loving Copenhageners and visitors can rent
kayaks to tour the canals of Copenhagen, or enjoy cultural
activities at the new theatre scene established adjacent to
the wave.
Valby Beach
This recently established beach marks the southern tip of
the Copenhagen Harbour area. Make sure you visit in late
July when the annual “Green Concert” takes place. The musical event attracts thousands of Copenhageners who swim at
the beach during the day and listen to rock concerts in the
adjacent Valby Park at night.
Nordhavn harbour
swimming pool
Nordhavn is one of the city districts, and a place where
you can experience the lifestyle of Copenhagen families.
The local harbour swimming pool here is definitely worth
a visit. It has been built to resemble Swedish skerries, and
is made up of large pieces of rock placed in the water.
4
5
Trekroner fortress
This old military installation used to be part of Copenhagen’s defence towards the sea. Today, a newly established
beach lets you go for a swim, and on a clear day you can
spot the Swedish coast on the horizon. Grab one of the harbour buses, and bring nothing but a towel and your swim
trunks and visit this new Copenhagen hot spot.
The floating
swimming pool
When walking along the harbourfront, you might come
across a large, strange floating device. This is the new
floating swimming pool, which moves from place to place
during the summer. A day spent in this swimming pool
can take you past various sights, and let you see Copenhagen from the seaside while cooling off in the pool.
7 1 // ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
3
Kalvebod Wave
5 Characteristics of
the green and blue
Copenhagen
1
2
3
4
5
The city adapts to the climate. In Copenhagen, climate
change has resulted in more extreme weather. Intense
summer heat waves and occasional heavy rains flood city
sewers, streets and basements. Pocket parks and green
roofs adapts the city to this new climate, as parks cool
down the city, and green roofs collect as much as 60 pct. of
the yearly precipitation.
The city has healthy and productive citizens. The availability of recreational opportunities affects how inhabitants of a city function. Research shows that a lack of recreational spaces has a lasting detrimental effect on people,
weakening their active participation in society, their productivity at work and their health.
The city creates local economic growth. Real estate values of housing close to parks and harbour swimming pools
have increased significantly compared to other areas, adding value for local residents. Furthermore, the activity generated by recreational areas creates a foundation for local
businesses such as cafés, restaurants, and bars that did
not exist before..
The city creates quality of life. Aristotle once said: “A
city exists for the sake of a good life – not for the sake of
life only.” It shouldn’t be overlooked that recreational areas
have a significant impact on the liveability of a city and on
the quality of life for its inhabitants.
The city is aesthetic. With rooftop gardens and pocket
parks all over town, Copenhagen shows off a new and
interesting look. Dominated by grey and black surfaces
before, the city is now a pallet of green natural colours,
changing form and expression along with the seasons.
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Meet the
Copenhagener
Name: Storm Anker
‘‘
Age: 24. Occupation: Carpenter apprentice
When I was younger and still lived with my parents, I
would usually go play basketball with my friends in the
Stengade pocket park; it has a great basketball court, and
is the place where all the local kids meet. And it was where
I had my first kiss.
Practical information:
Never worry about dirty water
A regional water treatment company owned by eight municipalities
around Copenhagen makes sure that you can always jump in the harbour and enjoy clean water. Wastewater is cleaned and can be safely
disposed into the sea. The sludge is incinerated, creating energy that is
fed into the district heating system to keep you and the people around
Copenhagen warm.
73 // ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
What is your favourite spot in Copenhagen?
It depends on what I am in the mood for. When
I need to get out of my dorm and just want to
relax and read a book, I enjoy spending time in
the shared rooftop garden of my parents’ building, close by
the lakes. Here I can lie on the grass and listen to the quiet
humming coming from the city below or the bees flying
from roof to roof. But, when I hang out with friends during
the summer, we usually grab a water bus and go to Trekroner Fortress with our portable barbeques. The new beach
there is amazing and the historic surroundings create a
cool atmosphere for relaxing and enjoying the summer vacation. We usually stick around until late evening, when
the last boat departs.
HISTORY
Today, Copenhagen
is famous for being
the world’s first
carbon-neutral
capital.
However, Copenhagen did not evolve to be carbon neutral overnight. In fact, the political, technical and cultural
building blocks that combined make the Copenhagen we
see today, were the result of more than a century of visionary politicians, persistent citizens and innovative businesses.
The City of Copenhagen, citizens and local businesses
have, over the past century, taken important steps towards
creating an environmentally friendly city that fosters economic growth and a high quality of life for its citizens.
Wind turbines, district cooling, the smart grid, biking
strategies, carbon neutral buildings, public harbour swimming pools and pocket parks are only part of the story behind the Copenhagen of today.
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75 // HISTORY
76 // HISTORY
Historic timeline
of carbon neutral
Copenhagen
1947
1910
The first bike lane is established in Copenhagen as the
bridle paths paved with loose
stones along the lakes are
opened up to cyclists.
1863
The first public transportation
option is unveiled in Copenhagen.
The horse tram carried 20 passengers at a time from Sankt Annæ
Plads to Frederiksberg Runddel.
The plan for Copenhagen’s
urban development, “The
Finger Plan,” is developed. It
emphasises green wedges of
recreational areas for Copenhageners to enjoy in between the
“fingers” of urbanization.
1992
Wind turbines are raised in
the waters just off the easternmost part of Copenhagen
harbour, supplying 900
households with clean energy.
1976
1925
The first steps towards a centralised district heating system
in Copenhagen are taken.
The first Wastewater Management Plan is formulated. The
plan is the first step towards
the revitalisation of the Copenhagen harbour and diminishes
the health hazards of sewage.
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2006
2001
The world’s most efficient
Combined Heat and Power
plant is built, warming houses in the city with excess
heat from power production.
2002
The first public harbour swimming pool is opened, officially
marking the revitalisation of
the harbour.
2002
1995
“Bycyklen” (The City Bike) is
introduced. It is the world’s
first large-scale urban bikesharing programme.
The first phase of the Copenhagen
Metro is opened with the inauguration of 11 stations.
“Bryggebroen”, a bridge
solely for pedestrians and
bicyclists spanning the
harbour in Copenhagen,
opens – it creates a new
shortcut for cyclists over
the harbour.
2008
“The Environmental Zone” is
launched. It prohibits dieselfuelled vehicles without
particle filters from entering
the city. Previously, it was
estimated that particle pollution caused hundreds of
premature deaths annually in
Copenhagen.
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CO2
2011
2010
2009
A unanimous City Council
signs the “Copenhagen
Climate Plan,” putting forth
ambitions of a carbon neutral Copenhagen in 2025.
2009
100 pct. electric-powered
buses become part of the
public transportation system
in Copenhagen.
77 // HISTORY
Copenhagen opens its first
district cooling system, making it possible to cool office
buildings in the summer using
sea water..
2011
The first discussions on solutions for traffic congestion in
Copenhagen commences.
Copenhagen experienced
the worst floodsin for more
than 50 years leaving large
parts of the city kneedeep
in water for days – this
increased the awareness
and focus of climate adaption amongst politicians
and citizens
2012
“Project Clean Cab” is
launched, introducing the city’s
first taxis running on 100 pct.
electricity.
2050
Denmark becomes
independent
of fossil
fuels.
2025
Copenhagen becomes
the first carbon-neutral
capital in the world.
2015
Fourteen new pocket parks are
opened to the public, making the
city greener than ever.
2025
Half of all Copenhageners now commute
to work and places of
education by bike.
2016
The first inhabitants
move into the new
Carlsberg district – the
first carbon neutral
part of Copenhagen,
with more than 3,000
homes and green areas
for residents.
78 // HISTORY
2018
The Metro City Ring opens,
making it more convenient
than ever to commute via
public transit.
CITIES THAT INSPIRED
COPENHAGEn
Hamburg
Instead of expanding the city into its
periphery, it is moving into the unused
old inner city area of the port. Creating
a new vibrant area and helping to reach
the city’s climate targets.
London
Establishment of thousands of vegetable
gardens on rooftops and in community
gardens.
Portland
Active citizen engagement helped
Portland to focus on meaningful public
transportation.
New York city
The High Line is an old railway converted into attractive park promenade.
CURITIBA
People centered urban design, environmental management and integrated
solutions.
79 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Beijing
4,000 outdoor gyms providing free
exercise opportunities.
Songpa
Sønderborg
Engaging citizens via the “Green
Songpa” website with tips for energyreducing behavior.
Although small, it is the first city in a
public-private partnership that works
to combine growth and climate change
and achieve carbon neutrality.
Singapore
Abundant parks and gardens.
Melbourne
The world’s most livable city – a success
story in stopping urban sprawl and
instead using the urban spaces better,
building on top of existing buildings in a
well-known and comfortable scale.
Masdar City
First city with net-zero carbon emission.
Cars are banned. 80 pct. of water is
recycled.
78 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
The Circle Bridge, resembling ship
masts, is a kind reference to the
maritime history of Christianshavn.
The bridge in the inner harbour
connects new architectural buildings
with the old warehouses across and
works for both cyclists and pedestrians but can swing to the side and
make way for ships needing to go
through.
HISTORY
79 // HISTORY
BUMPS ON THE ROAD TO
COPENHAGEN 2025
Designing a city for an extra
100,000 people in 2025, and
still reaching ambitious climate
targets was not always easy.
Here are two of the bumps on
the road to Copenhagen 2025.
Both turned out to become
great learning experiences for
the city in how to plan and
structure the Copenhagen we
see today.
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Combating
congestion
In 2011, the proposal for a congestion ring around Copenhagen was shot down. As in the cities that have successfully introduced a congestion ring, the public discussion in Copenhagen focused on the upfront cost of the
ring instead of its socio-economic benefits. Second, the
issue was used as a tool to oppose to the newly elected
national government. New strategy and communication
efforts shed more light on the benefits of the congestion
ring and were inspired by the solutions in other capitals.
When ready, Copenhagen will be able to introduce the best
possible solution to limit the amount of traffic in and out
of the city.
The ambitious plan for developing this part of the city
was to turn Copenhagen away from low houses and close
density and towards remarkable architectural icons and
new apartment buildings clustered along a new Metro
line. The results were indeed iconic buildings, but also
wind corridors, big empty spaces between the buildings,
and a dearth of local retail and grocery stores. What went
wrong, some say, is that life was built out of the buildings.
Large closed surfaces, and the big empty spaces, made the
area seem deserted. The lesson learned: Design your city
like you would your living room, with close proximity to
everything you need, comfort and small scales. The new
neighborhoods of Nordhavn and Carlsberg are filled with
small recreational spaces, shops, and the focus has been
to create life before iconic buildings. (See more in the Architecture chapter).
81 // HISTORY
HISTORY
Ørestaden
ECONOMY
The green tiger
Copenhagen boasts one of the world’s best business environments. It is easy to establish a business, interact with
public services, corporate taxation is low and a highly educated workforce exists. But perhaps the most interesting
part of the economy – and the core reason for its prosperity
– is the link between business and sustainability.
The city is a frontrunner when it comes to understanding sustainability as an opportunity to develop new sources of growth rather than as a constraint.
Therefore, global economic trends have enormous positive impact on the economy and businesses of the city.
The resource crisis and the 8 billion people now inhabiting the planet have fuelled skyrocketing prices of energy,
materials and commodities.
Because of these global trends, and due to encouraging framework conditions, the Copenhagen economy is in
full bloom. Green business continues to be an important
growth engine for Copenhagen. This is the main reason
why the city has experienced 5 pct. economic growth annually in the past decade.
82 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
World population
8,012
Estimates in million
7,675
7,302
6,909
6,512
6,115
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
World Energy Consumption
Quadrillion British thermal units (Btu)
671
619
ECONOMY
573
505
406
2000
83 // ECONOMY
2008
2015
2020
2025
Mainstreaming
sustainability
– an economy beyond
green
In the first decade of the century,
the green sector in Copenhagen
had soared. Turnover and
export generated in the sector
experienced double-digit
growth – even through the great
recession of the early 2010s.
Today, however, the green sector has lost its special status. No one talks of the “sustainable economy” anymore.
No one mentions “green jobs.” Now it´s just “jobs and economy” – and of course both are sustainable.
In recent years, green has been mainstreamed into every corner of the economy – into the business plan of every
entrepreneur, into the shopping cart of every consumer
and into the strategy of every company, institution and organisation in Copenhagen.
Today, there is not a green economy and a brown economy. Today, there is just the economy. And it is booming.
8 4 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
A sustainable
economy
Sustainability in general and resource efficiency in particular make businesses in Copenhagen – and the city itself – highly competitive. In the past 10-15 years, Copenhagen has:
Reduced the consumption of electricity and heat by 30 pct. and 20 pct.
respectively compared to 2010.
2
Ensured that 50 pct. of all trips to work and study in Copenhagen are made
on bikes, keeping transportation costs down and improving public health,
with fewer sick days in return.
3
Installed 360 MW of wind power, which supplies cheap electricity at night
to the city’s vehicle fleet.
4
Monitored and reduced energy consumption via smart technologies.
5
Constructed a smart and flexible energy system that reduces losses and
hedges against expensive peak demand by integrating energy storage
from the district heating system.
6
Constructed a new combined heat and power plant running on cheap
biomass.
7
Developed a concept whereby plumbers, electricians and contractors act
as free energy consultants to small businesses.
8
Ensured a low total cost of ownership for new buildings, and invested in
smart solutions during the construction phase to keep annual costs down.
9
Changed taxation of low-energy buildings. Now net area instead of gross
area is taxed, creating incentives for increased insulation.
10
85 // ECONOMY
Educated all employees in climate-conscious behaviour such as ecodriving.
ECONOMY
1
Three is a
welcomed
crowd
ACADEMIA
– The Danish windmill
adventure
INDUSTRY
STATE
An important chapter in the history of the green economy in Denmark has been the Danish Wind Turbine Adventure, bringing with it thousands of jobs. The adventure was
made possible by the triple-helix model – a model for cooperation between academia, industry and the state. Beginning in the late 1970s, the Danish government financially
supported energy providers in developing and testing bigger and better wind turbines.
The goal of the triple-helix model is to create the synergies needed to ensure sustainable economic growth based
on technology and innovation. An important cultural trait
crucial to making the triple-helix model function efficiently in Denmark, however, is trust (read more about trust
in the People and Culture chapter). A high level of trust
makes knowledge sharing easier, and is essential in creating an environment fostering innovation in the business
community and academia.
This triple-helix model, and the knowledge sharing it
has brought with it, has been claimed to be one of the main
reasons why Denmark is, today, the world leader in sustainable solutions.
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COPENHAGEN
2010-2025
2.500.000
0
369
Carbon emission in tons from the city
33
50
Percentage of citizens going
to work on bikes
90*
46
360
MW electric capacity from windmills
*2015 figure
80
Percentage of Copenhageners
living within min walk
of a public park
95
Percentage of young Copenhageners who
complete a secondary education
535
640
Thousands of people
living in the city
68
90*
*2015 figure
Percentage of food served in public
institutions which is organic
87 // ECONOMY
ECONOMY
63
482
Kilometres of bike lane
in Copenhagen
10 Economic
hotspots
1
CO2
2
Green City Exports
Copenhagen is carbon neutral. This stimulates the export of solutions within energy production, energy efficiency, waste management, district heating and cooling,
and sustainable urban planning to cities around the world.
Home grown energy
Web-based tools for identifying suitable rooftops for solar panels spur private installations in Copenhagen. Many
companies and cooperatives (Copenhagen was also a firstmover with wind turbine cooperatives) are also solar energy producers. Residents and companies responded to the
city’s successful attempt to alter the framework conditions
for solar.
See Shopping chapter.
3
E-mobility
Close to 15 pct. of cars on the road in Copenhagen do not
run on fossil fuels. For small vehicles owned by the municipality, the share is 95 pct. The rise of e-mobility is closely
linked to investments in infrastructure for these cars.
8 8 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
4
Urban farming
5
Upcycling and Urban
Mining
Green roofs in the city allow residents to grow their own
vegetables. Many families and day-care centres take advantage of the rooftop gardens to teach children about
food production. The green roofs were originally implemented under the adaption plan, as the plants absorb rainwater and shelter buildings from extreme temperatures,
but for many Copenhageners they have become a favourite
pastime. And sources of pride, too, as the yearly competition for the biggest vegetables and most beautiful gardens
testify
6
89 // ECONOMY
Shared-use
Copenhagen was an early mover in shared transportation. The city bike – a shared fleet of bikes – was introduced
30 years ago, in 1995. At that time, cars were used inefficiently. They used to sit idle 80 pct. of the time and occupied streets and areas now used for parks. Shared cars
paved the way for shared business models for other products Copenhageners seldom use such as gardening and
home improvement tools and suitcases.
ECONOMY
The practice of converting waste materials into products
of greater value has a long tradition in Copenhagen. Early
on, the REnescience facility at Amagerforbrændingen sorted and secured valuable components from the waste generated in the city. Today, several companies are recycling
valuable metals and materials from old products and have
re-imagined and redefined the concept of waste.
7
Sights on bikes
– bicycle tourism
The “I bike Copenhagen” is as iconic and beloved as the
“I heart NY” – and with good reason. Tourists flock to the
Danish capital to experience sights on bikes. Today, 50 pct.
of Copenhagen residents cycle to work, and an increasing
share of tourists choose Copenhagen as their destination
because of the bicycle culture.
See Getting Around chapter.
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8
9
91 // ECONOMY
Copenhagen is frequently called the world’s best city to
live in, and is praised for the quality of life. The smart city
design facilitates a harmonised and advanced lifestyle.
Architects, urban planners and companies are working
towards bottling this “copenhagenism” through the intelligent sustainable design of products, buildings and cities.
Smart Grid
The smart grid enables information and energy to run
both ways between consumers and energy companies.
Washing machines start automatically at night, when energy prices are low. Electric cars are programmed to sell
energy if energy prices are high and the battery has sufficient energy to spare. The strategies reduce energy use at
times of peak demand and overall.
Smart City
It is not only the power grid that has become smart. The
entire city is becoming smarter for the convenience of its
citizens. Buildings, roads and even waste disposal systems
are intelligent and make the lives of Copenhageners easier
and more resource efficient.
ECONOMY
10
Quality of life
SHOPPING
If you are looking for a souvenir
– forget about Little Mermaid
figurines – bring back a wind
turbine.
Copenhagen is carbon neutral, and Denmark is en route
to becoming independent of fossil fuels by 2050. What better
way to purchase a little bit of Copenhagen than a turbine?
In one of the first wind cooperatives in Copenhagen, 8,650
locals bought individual shares for $809, which represented
the production of 1,000 kilowatt-hours per year – increasing
public support for the project. The City of Copenhagen made
a profit from the sale of its first successful wind farm, and
revenue has been channelled back into city projects.
360 Megawatts of wind power have been installed, and
at least 20 pct. of the production is sold to wind turbine
cooperatives, where locals buy shares. For large investors, such as pension funds, green energy infrastructure
is an attractive asset in an era of volatile markets, as wind
farms have a very appealing risk-return profile.
However, the secret to Copenhagen´s success in becoming carbon neutral is right below you. The Copenhagen energy system has been an integrated and smart system for
years.
The system combines the production of heat and power,
using all available types of technologies and fuels: waste,
solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, district heating and
cooling. The smart system can handle this diversified selection of renewable energy sources, and even store and
exchange power and heat.
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SHOPPING
93 // SHOPPING
Tip FOR the business traveller
– Energy Saving Companies and
Energy Finance Consultants
Copenhagen has plenty of businesses that help companies achieve
energy savings. In some partnerships, a portion of the savings is used
to develop renewable energy projects, by, for example, pledging to
buy blocks of power production from a wind farm.
While in Copenhagen, you will also notice much construction and retrofitting under way. The reason for this is a new business and finance
model for low-energy buildings. The business model removes risk by
guaranteeing the building owner defined energy savings. Eliminating
that risk makes investments in energy savings more calculable and
attractive, and easier to finance .
Power from
the people
As mentioned, the Copenhagen energy system is the main
reason why the city has been able to reach its zero-carbon
target. However, Copenhageners take pride in fighting carbon.
Copenhageners are not just CONsumers anymore – they
have become PROsumers. A PROsumer is a resident who not
only consumes energy, but also produces it via local technical solutions. Many homeowners and apartment co-ops have
solar panels installed on rooftops, and are small-time energy
tycoons. The smart grid allows them to sell energy to the grid
when they have excess production or energy prices are high.
Also, if you walk into any apartment building in Copenhagen you will notice on some doors the green electron label.
These apartments purchase green energy from their energy
provider. The price is slightly higher than conventional energy – but part of the deal is an unburdened conscience and
the prestigious green electron label that Copenhageners love
to flash. A power brand in every sense.
Also, Copenhageners are doing their best to avoid consumption – because when it comes to power shopping – less is more.
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Second hand
– hot deals
Ever noticed how kitchens are
usually a warm place?
Cooking generates a lot of excess heat. Making Danish
meatballs will not only keep the wolf from the door, it also
warms your kitchen.
The same goes for power. In order to produce electricity
for your television, waste or straw is burned at the power
plant. This process yields a valuable byproduct: heat.
In conventional power generation, the heat is wasted,
but in Copenhagen 98 pct. of homes is heated by this
second-hand product. The combined heat and power system provides low-cost, low-carbon heat. Besides being a
more environmentally friendly solution, district heating is
cheaper and more hassle-free for the end-user compared
to individual heat sources.
However, it is not just district heating that makes the
energy system worth looking at – it is the system itself.
SHOPPING
Bulk buying – Tip for shopaholics
Single technologies are great but not always sufficient to meet the
massive challenge of large-scale projects – such as building entirely
new, energy-efficient cities. Are you in the market for collective solutions – systems already working? Then check out the one-stop shop
at the Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster where you can get an overview
of all the initiatives, knowledge and possible partners in the area. Visit
www.cphcleantech.com
95 // SHOPPING
THE COPENHAGEN
ENERGY CIRCUIT
Solar
Collector
Solar Panels
Solar panels generate electricity and also shade rooftops to lower buildings’ need for cooling in the summer. Larger solar farms are installed
outside the city to harvest power from the unlimited potential of the sun.
Sunlight heats up liquid
inside a collector, which
is then circulated to a
boiler heating up water.
Some solar collectors
can heat up the liquid to
temperatures as high as
100 degrees Celsius.
Heat
storage
GeotHermal
ENERGY
Nordhavn holds one of
the world biggest heat
storages. Working as a
gigantic thermos, the
former dry dock can
hold up to 300,000
cubic meters of hot
water. The storage is
an integrated part of
the heat and power
production in the city.
The water is kept warm
until the Copenhageners
demand hot showers in
the morning - avoiding
the expensive peaks in
demand.
Energy is extracted from the core
of the Earth by drilling down to
the hot rocks underneath the surface. By injecting water into to the
drilled well, hot water can be extracted and turned into electricity
through a turbine above ground.
District Cooling
District cooling is a system where water is chilled – partly by cold water
from the sea – and distributed via insulated pipelines underground to cool
commercial and industrial buildings in central Copenhagen. The system
reduces electricity bills and strain on the environment.
9 6 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Smart
Grid
The smart grid connects
various energy sources
into one system, to make
better use of fluctuating energy sources like
wind. The grid is able to
handle a two-way-flow
of electricity, meaning
that citizens are not only
able to consume energy,
but also to produce
energy and sell it back to
the grid.
COMBINED
HEAT AND
POWER PLANT
District heating exploits surplus heat
from electricity production and distributes it to Copenhagen homes through
large pipes. Today more than 98 pct. of
the heat demand in Copenhagen is covered by district heating. The system can
make use of various renewable sources
biomass, geothermal and solar and send
it into the system.
Waste to
energy
Collected household
waste is separated and
turned into energy.
Excess heat from incinerated waste is sent
into the district heating
system.
International
perspective
The grid is connected to other countries.
Excess energy is sold internationally
when the demand is met in Denmark so
wind energy doesn’t go to waste.
SHOPPING
(This illustration is inspired by: Scientific American, September 2011)
Off shore wind
Wind turbines installed off the costs of the city provide electricity to the
Copenhageners. These wind farms are sold as cooperatives to the locals
increasing public support and creating revenue for the city.
97 // SHOPPING
Copenhagerner’s
organic food
consumption, pct.
20
16
2010
POWER
HEAT
The Heat and
Power Exchange
The heat and power exchange is a key part of the smart
energy system in Copenhagen.
What makes the system smart is its ability to handle
both stable and fluctuating sources of energy. The system
combines the strengths of different solutions, allowing for
clean but fluctuating wind to be backed up by more dispatchable sources of energy that in turn create balance
and resilience.
Copenhagen is continuously working to optimize the interplay between wind, geothermal energy, biomass, combined heat and power plants, and district heating. The system enables renewable energy such as wind power to be
stored as heat.
Also, electric vehicles function in particular at night
as energy storage. When electric vehicles are plugged in
to charge the batteries, they relieve the energy system of
surplus production from wind power. Alternatively – and
this is the really smart point – the grid may shortly cut
off charging or even ‘borrow’ energy from the batteries if
there is too little energy in the grid. A seamless energy mobility system.
2015
98 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Sustainable
Shopping
The current resource crisis have
spurred the need to redesign
the way we live, work, travel,
produce and consume. Here
are some items to add to your
sustainable shopping list while in
Copenhagen.
Eco design
(Ecouture)
99 // SHOPPING
SHOPPING
The Danes are famous for their design. And, to Danes,
design is more than mere aesthetics. Design is about making life easier, better and more sustainable. Copenhagen
designers understand that less is more; acknowledge that
you may own a product, but only borrow the materials it
consists of; and respect that natural resources are something you hold and look after for the next generation.
In the mood for some
light shopping?
Waste recycling:
Waste not
recycled and
thus sent to
landfill, pct.
40
15 pct. of your electricity bill goes to lighting. But why
buy what you can get for free? When browsing in Copenhagen, notice how new houses and offices are designed to
harvest daylight, reducing the need to purchase artificial
light. Daylight has a better “light quality” than electric
lighting, and is linked to increased productivity, learning
capacity and well-being. Being a northern city, you will
find bargains on daylight during summer – whereas sunlight on sale during winter can be hard to come by.
Tax free
shopping
– not just an airport thing
2
1988
2009
For decades, Denmark has integrated environmental
considerations into its tax system, for a wide range of
products and services. For a long period, green cars were
exempt from the 180 pct. car tax. Today, polluting cars
are still taxed more heavily than green cars. Because of
Denmark’s green tax reforms, consumers have demanded
cleaner products, and industry has invested in materials
and processes with less environmental impact. Denmark
is considering lowering the VAT on fruits and vegetables
that are local and in season.
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Bio based beauty
products
In Copenhagen, you will have a vast selection of alternatives to the high-value products we previously sourced
from oil, such as plastic. Copenhagen has been using waste
as a resource for decades – turning trash into treasure.
In refinery plants, industrial and household waste and
agricultural biomass are turned into bio-based commodities such as pharmaceutical ingredients, cosmetics, chemicals, materials and fuel.
The biomass and waste that does get incinerated generates power and heat for thousands of households, and
makes use of the valuable energy contained within the
city’s trash.
If you plan to stay in Copenhagen for a longer period,
we recommend you subscribe to a once-a-year company.
Instead of buying seldom-used power tools or ten chairs
for the annual dinner party, people in Copenhagen subscribe to an OY company. The company guarantees delivery within two hours. Most companies have cargo bikes
cycling around the city, and will arrive much faster.
Orders are placed via your smart phone. You save a small
fortune, and avoid the hassle of storing the stuff.
101 // SHOPPING
SHOPPING
The oncea-yearsubscription
(OYs)
Wind-made
products
When you browse in the shops of Copenhagen, notice
how many of the products are labelled. Copenhageners
particularly love products that are organic, fair-trade and
made with wind power. Due to the Danes love affair with
wind, WindMade – the first global label dedicated to a single renewable energy source – became immensely popular
when it was first introduced on products in Denmark.
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Meet the
Copenhagener
Name: Anna Lund
Age: 29. Occupation: Founder and CEO, Your Closet. (A
shareuse company renting fashion)
‘‘
What is your best shopping tip?
I’m in the shared-used business myself, so it
comes natural to my family and me to think
in terms of value instead of ownership. We
recently upgraded our once-a-year subscription. Now my
husband can play with all the power tools he wants without me complaining about the lack of storage. But if you
ask my twins – they are 4 years old - they would say our
wind turbines. In order for my company to become carbon
neutral, I invested in shares in the wind farm just outside
Copenhagen harbour. I’ve hung the certificates in the kids’
rooms, so now they talk about their wind turbines and
track the share of wind energy in the grid. “Mom, wind is
60 pct., can we download a movie?” they´ll say.
1
App
Saeson Lets you know what
fruits and vegetables are in
season.
2 Energy Tycoon Provides
real-time energy prices, and
allows you to trade energy
from your solar panels or
electric car.
3
103 // SHOPPING
Your power Tells you the
current share of renewable
energy in the grid.
4 Green meter Rates the eco-
efficiency of your driving via
the phone’s accelerometer
– inspiring you to become a
“hypermiler.”
Commute Greener Tracks the
5 car, bicycle, public transport
or walking journeys you take
and the resulting carbon
emissions.
SHOPPING
Top five app sales in Copenhagen
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HOURS IN
COPENHAGEN
Copenhagen has a lot to
offer, far more than you can
see in 24 hours, or 72 hours
for that matter. For the busy
traveller keen on getting the
“Copenhagen experience”, what
follows is a tour to spending 24
or 72 hours in the sustainable
capital of Denmark.
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24 HOURS IN THE
SUSTAINABLE CAPITAL
9:30 AM: Brew ’n’ breakfast
at Carlsberg
Our day starts in the old brewing district of Carlsberg, which is now a prosperous and lively part of town. It was also the first carbon-neutral district
of Copenhagen (See the Architecture chapter). Take a moment to breathe
in the historical atmosphere of this place, which for more than 150 years
was the main production site for Carlsberg beer. If you want to catch the
morning sun, go to the Carls Garden in the eastern part of the district. Here
you can find a few cafés serving delicious Danish breakfast, including the
renowned Danish pastry.
And since you are on holiday, why not treat yourself to one of the refreshing
local brew served in the neighbourhood? They come in many fruity flavours.
If you are interested in
learning more about the
sustainability focus of
the urban planning of
Carlsberg, make sure to
book a guided tour at
www.carlsbergbyen.dk
When planning your trip to Copenhagen, don’t bother looking for an
expensive hotel room. Instead, visit one of the many online apartmentsharing communities, and get the experience of staying in a true
Copenhagen home together with a new friend.
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Tip to budget travel in Copenhagen
1 PM: LOCAL NORDIC
DELICACIES AND URBAN
HANGOUTS
The French have their “cuisine,” Italians their “cucina” and Copenhageners
their “køkken.” After visiting the Carlsberg district, a 15-min bike ride will
take you to Torvehallerne – Copenhageners’ favourite marketplace. Here
you can experience everything the Nordic kitchen has to offer. Copenhageners, being locavores (read more about locavores in the People and
Culture chapter), prefer cooking with local ingredients, and in Torvehallerne
you can find everything that is local and in season. Local ingredients ensure
freshness and taste. And, when you eat local food, you can do so with a
good conscience – one of the perks of being a locavore is the reduction in
environmental impact from avoided transport.
Adjacent to Torvehallerne you will find Israel’s Square (find photo in the Environment chapter). This spot is an urban hangout for Copenhageners of all
ages; young kids play in the lowered green playground under the treetops,
while older ones play basketball in the courts on the square. Bring your
selections from Torvehallerne to this square and find a bench in the sun or
shade. Sit down and feel like a Copenhagener for a moment.
If you do not feel like
taking a long trip, how
about bringing your
loved one to one of the
small floating islands
inside The Wave’s basin?
4 PM: KAYAKING IN THE
HARBOUR AND DINNER AT
THE FLOATING CAFÉ
With Copenhagen being the “Green and Blue Capital,” you cannot spend
24 hours in the city and not engage with the blue element. So make your
way by bike to the harbour, more specifically to the Kalvebod Brygge. In
front of the hotels and corporate headquarters, you will find “The Kalvebod
Wave,” as Copenhageners call it. This wave-shaped pier is the hub for
kayaking in the city, and here you can rent kayaks by the hour.
Don’t be afraid to jump into it; should you find it difficult, you can always
ask one of the locals for a few tips – they are very helpful. We recommend
taking the trip through the inner canals of Copenhagen, past Parliament
and the former Stock Exchange. On your way back, stop at one of the
floating cafés along the harbour that are specifically built to serve kayakers
on the water – here you can truly enjoy a dinner at sea.
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8 PM: JAZZ IN THE HARBOUR
Read more about the
Copenhagen Jazz Festival at www.jazz.dk
Returning to The Wave after dinner, what could be better than a cold beer
or glass of wine and a jazz concert? The Wave is home not just to the
largest kayak rental centre in Copenhagen but also hosts several cafés and
a stage with occasional live music and stand-up comedy. Make sure you
check out the program for the Copenhagen Jazz Festival in early July –
you might be lucky and see a superstar on the Wave Stage.
Want to experience Copenhagen from above? Ride the Metro to the Bella
Sky Hotel, in Ørestaden, where the sky bar gives you the perfect panoramic view of Copenhagen. On bright summer nights, you can spot the
wind turbines off the coast of Copenhagen, and get a good impression of
how green the city is. Be sure to try the “Bella Be Sour” cocktail in the bar.
The drink includes honey made on the roof of the hotel, where more than
600,000 bees reside in an urban bee farm supporting the local ecosystem
(read more about urban bees in the Environment chapter).
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10 PM: GREEN DRINKS WITH
A PANORAMIC VIEW OF
COPENHAGEN
48 HOURS
9:00 AM: Copenhagen goes
abroad
– a case of green history
After a day of Copenhagen fun, it is time to take the 20-min Metro ride
across the Øresund Bridge and go abroad to the Swedish city of Malmö.
Or, maybe not abroad, because the largest group of immigrants in Malmö
are actually Danes.
In the early 1990s, when the recession hit hard in Sweden, Malmö lost a
third of its jobs, and crime rates were the highest in the country. But an
ambitious strategy was hatched to change the image of the city, to attract
young people and make the city truly green. The strategy ranged from a
principle of only investing in buildings that lived up to sustainability standards to placing additional solar panels on the facades of buildings to make
clean energy visible – instead of “just” rooftop installations that no one sees.
Today, half of the solar installations in Sweden are in Malmö, and for the last
five years the city has been running on 100 pct. renewable energy. The city
is, besides a great place to shop due to a favorable exchange rate, proof
that political determination can pave the way for a successful green city.
Loop City is a vision for
expanding the light rail
to form a regional ring
around Øresund and
creating a cross border
region between Sweden
and Denmark, an area
the size of the San Francisco Bay area.
Regional Loop
Light Rail
S-train
COPENHAGEN
MALMÖ
ØRESUND
108 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
The new Nørreport station is the busiest station
in Copenhagen and
was finished in 2014. Its
reconstruction together
with the expansion
of the metro in 2018
significantly improved
the public transportation infrastructure of
Copenhagen.
Back at the new Nørreport Station, the key transportation hub in Copenhagen, take a moment and pause – because you can. You are not in a hurry,
and you have not been stuck in traffic. From here, you can connect to city
bikes, electric buses, light-rail, local or regional trains, or the Metro, and
it’s all just a ticket away on your phone. To cut travel time, you can take
the new light-rail, which connects 10 municipalities and saves commuters
heaps of time every day. The light-rail is the first step in the loop city vision
that will link Copenhagen and Sweden even more. You can always check
the easiest route to a destination on the smart pillar at the station. The
pillar monitors the traffic all over Copenhagen, and can tell you the easiest
way to go and where to transfer at any time of day, be it on a bus, Metro,
train or bike.
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109 // 24/72 IN CPH
3:00 PM: Not Stuck in
Traffic
3:05 PM: Biking is bliss
After leaving the train, grab a city bike and pedal to Nordhavn. You’ll pass
sights like the Little Mermaid, you can take a fresh dip in the harbour bath,
and catch a glimpse of busy people at UN City. You can also take in the
amazing view and experience the nerve-wrecking thrill of biking in a height
of 65 metres over the Two Tower Bridge while cruise ships and ferries pass
by underneath you
If the journey has let a bit of the air out of your tires, you need not to worry.
Throughout the city, there are bike pump stations where you can get some
fresh air. (Read more about Nordhavn in the Architecture chapter.)
7:00 PM: Dinner by the sea
After a long day of sightseeing, it is time to relax with your friends in a
true Danish fashion – the potluck dinner. For your contribution to the dinner, stop by one of the little fishing boats along the harbour in Nordhavn.
Buy some fresh fish straight from the local fishermen, and take the ferry
bus from Nordhavn to Trekroner Fortress. Here you can use the public
barbeques and prepare dinner while your friends are setting the wooden
tables. After dinner, enjoy the sunset and the music from the DJ; if you
want, dance until sunrise.
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72 HOURS
10:00 AM: Senior
Sustainability
Start your last day in Copenhagen by doing a universal thing: go to a sunny
place, and get a cup of coffee in one of the city’s many pocket parks. If you
think sustainability is only for the young, visit the nursing home in Lyngby
Taarbæk, north of Copenhagen. The nursing home is located in a green
area, with an elementary school, university and daycare centre close by –
all to make the area a vibrant and lively place to be.
The building is energy efficient and takes care of people. In each resident’s
room, there is a sensor that can detect movement; if a person falls and
can’t get up, the sensor alerts staff that there has not been movement in
the room for an extended period. Sensors can also detect whether someone has forgotten to turn off the TV or radio and, if so, turn it off. (See the
People and Shopping chapter on Visiting the Copenhagen Smart Home)
The nursing home is also connected to the Danish Technical University,
which will conduct research on welfare technology based on observations
of the residents’ behavior.
Before you leave the Grannies for the return trip to the city, fill your water
bottle at the kitchen tap. Every Dane drinks tap water; it is cleaner and
more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
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111 // 24/72 IN CPH
TION
primary
ve tunr easy,
2:00 PM: Visiting a
Copenhagen home
It is now time to explore how the real Copenhageners live and visit a home
BIKE RACKS AND L
COMMUNITY GARDENS AND PARKS
in Gullandsgården, an old
social-housing
association
that used
bit
bike lanes and
Requiring
businesses
and homes
to to be a Ample
See page 58
dodgy but reinvented itself, adding an extra floor and new features likemore
a
people to ride
separate trash, recyclables and comrooftop garden and green walls. The facility is even carbon neutral. Before
they also promote fitn
post spares landfills; collection chargreaching for the doorbell, look to your right and notice the little lake – this
es dropby
asstormwater
trash drops pipes to reduce the risk of
is actually rainwater collected
flooding. Inside the home, it is light, warm and comfy but remember the
Danish custom and remove your shoes when you enter. Don’t worry, the
district heating system keeps you warm, and the solar panels attached to
the balcony are used for under-floor heating to keep your toes warm when
(This illustration
inspiredon
by: the bathroom floor tiles. (See the People and Culture chapter).
youisstep
Scientific American, September 2011)
5:00 pm: Take a walk on
the wild side
After spending the afternoon inside, take the train to Åmarken station and
enjoy your last hours in Copenhagen at Harrestrup Creek. In the past, this
30-kilometre-long creek was contaminated and lead wastewater from
surrounding municipalities all the way into Copenhagen. Today, it has been
transformed into a green natural resort by the nine neighboring municipalities. Local people now have access to a recreational space where they
can run, walk and play. The newly designed creek includes different levels,
which is not only pretty but serves as a climate adaptation strategy. In case
of flooding, the creek won’t overflow its banks. Additionally, stormwater
reservoirs run by different municipalities along the creek’s route help to
adjust the water levels and keep the creek cleaner.
112 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
7:00 PM: Going home
Conclude your stay with a peaceful walk in Frederiksberg. From there, go
to your vacation rental apartment and get your belongings. Hop on the
Metro for the 20-min ride to the airport.
Copenhagen is a city full of things to see and do; 72 hours is not nearly
enough. The next chance you get, come back to explore what you missed
this time around.
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113 // 24/72 IN CPH
COMING
BACK IN 2050
Becoming carbon neutral by 2025 has been a key milestone in the history of Copenhagen. However, concern
over population growth, increasing energy demands and
resource scarcity does not stop in 2025. These challenges
are global, and will continue indefinitely. Cities will have
to keep evolving and keep pushing the boundaries for sustainable living. In 2050, the population of Copenhagen will
approach 800,000 citizens. For Copenhagen to stay at the
forefront of sustainable development, even more innovative thinking and optimization of the energy system, the
urban environment, the city infrastructure and the economic foundation of the city is needed.
In 2050, all of Denmark will be independent of fossil fuels. What started as an ambitious vision in Copenhagen
has now become the reality for all of Denmark. Moving
forward, cities will continue to be key drivers of innovation, growth and sustainable development – this includes
Copenhagen.
“Dreamers,” “visionaries” or “madmen”? No matter what
we call them, the fact is that many of these individuals exist and continue to share their creative ideas – ideas that
alter perceptions of what is possible and push the boundaries of our imagination. This chapter offers a glimpse into
some of the ideas that could be realized by 2050 that will
continue improving and re-inventing life in Copenhagen.
114 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
How Copenhagen will look when
you return in 2050 is anyone’s
guess. Here is ours.
1
MOUNT
COPENHAGEN
In 2050, the construction of Mount Copenhagen has
commenced. Construction will take more than 200 years,
but, once finished, a 3.5-kilometre mountain will be located just outside the city. It will be the biggest manmade object in history. The potential of this mountain as a source
of energy is enormous. The peak will, during winter, be
covered in snow.
Melt water from this snow will flow through planned
canals and rivers, producing enough hydropower to make
the mountain a significant part of the Copenhagen energy
system.
115 // COMING BACK IN 2050
COMING BACK 2050
Undertaking a project as big as Mount Copenhagen
has lifted the innovative capacity in Copenhagen to new
heights. It has created a research environment never before
seen in Denmark, one in which the spillover effects bring
economic growth to all corners of the national economy.
Read more about the
Mount Copenhagen
initiative on www.mountcopenhagen.com
2
3
What started out as crazy idea has now put Copenhagen
on the world map. Mount Copenhagen is not only a new
source of energy and international attention but a biodiversity hotspot, enriching Danish nature with new species
of animals, plants and vegetation.
LADEGAARDS
CREEK
The focus on livability continued after 2025, and the
“Green and Blue Copenhagen” has become even more green
and blue. In 2050, Ladegaards Creek, which was paved over
in the 1950s, flows freely once more. For many years, this
creek was forced into pipes running underneath the heavily trafficked road Aaboulevarden. But an increased focus
on making cities for people and not for cars pushed Copenhagen to expand its public transportation system, which
made the city even more bikeable. This made it possible
to dig out the old creek. What used to be a gray concrete
neighbourhood has been revitalized into a green and blue
one, with new cafés and shops clustered along the creek
creating new way of life in this part of town. The creek also
efficiently redirects stormwater during heavy rains, making it a natural part of Copenhagen’s climate adaptation.
SUSTAINABLE
SUBURBIA
What began as a project to make the dense city centre of
Copenhagen sustainable has been expanded to include the
greater Copenhagen area. In 2050, the majority of Danes
will still be living in single-family houses, meaning that
116 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
the Copenhagen suburbs will be as full of life as ever. All
around Copenhagen, these dwellings have been modernized and retrofitted into energy-efficient homes.
Energy financing, where loans are repaid from the energy savings of a renovated building, has turned nearly
every home in Copenhagen into an energy-efficient building, and has reduced energy consumption noticeably. Local energy co-ops have transformed suburb dwellers from
CONsumers to PROsumers of energy – energy is produced
locally by solar panels scattered on the roofs of suburban
Copenhagen homes. When the panels generate a surplus,
the cooperatives sell energy back into the grid.
In 2050, the connection between the suburbs and city
centre runs smoothly; the Metro and light-rail connect all
parts of the city, making commuting easy and fast.
This high level of public transport connectivity has rendered cars largely obsolete; biking, along with public transportation, is today the natural choice for a vast majority of
Copenhageners.
COMING BACK 2050
117 // COMING BACK IN 2050
Keep on exploring
We hope you enjoyed the
journey to the future of
Copenhagen with us.
The Sustainia Guide to Copenhagen 2025 is the first publication in our Sustainia City Guides series.
In our guides, we apply the principles of Sustainia to
existing cities, and showcase why life in sustainable cities
will be easier, healthier, better and more fun.
You may explore the Sustainia universe further in the
following:
The book “Guide to
Sustainia”
The full vision and integrated storytelling
Guide to Sustainia describes the overall vision of Sustainia, and explains
in clear and simple language and illustrations how your city, home, energy
system and transportation could look in 2020.
It demonstrates a new way of communicating about sustainability – a new
tone of voice. Rather than depicting a future of sacrifices and restraints,
the Guide to Sustainia illustrates how sustainable solutions can contribute
to real improvements in people’s lives.
Sustainia City and Sector
Guides
Exploring the sustainable cities and industries of tomorrow
The Sustainia Guide to Copenhagen in 2025 is the first publication in our
series of city and sector guides. Our goal for the series is to visualize the
benefits of living in sustainable cities and the opportunities of sustainable
businesses and industries. Do you have suggestions for a new Sustainia
City or Sector guide, please get in contact with us.
118 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
Sustainia100
Overview of the solutions that will help create Sustainia
To complement the Guide to Sustainia, which is the overall storytelling,
the Sustainia100 is the pool of powerful solutions that will take us to
Sustainia. They are great ideas, innovations and technologies that help
build a sustainable tomorrow. The long-term vision is to establish an annual
Sustainia500 – an alternative to the Fortune500 – that each year identifies
the solutions we need to invest in to ensure we reach Sustainia.
Sustainia Award
The No 1 sustainability award
The Sustainia Award will be selected from the Sustainia100 and aims to
create global awareness around successful sustainable solutions. The
Sustainia Award honours outstanding performance within sustainability
and is headed by a high-level committee of global sustainability leaders
(see below).
The Sustainia Award has the following objectives:
a renowned annual global award on sustainability
* Establish
award the solutions with the most potential to be disseminated
* Annually
widely
year ensure a strong focus from media on sustainable develop
* Each
ment – features on how last year’s winner has proven successful and the
objectives of this year’s winner
The Sustainia Award Committee consists of the following:
Former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger (Chair of the
Committee), Ms. Connie Hedegaard (European Commissioner for Climate
Action), Gro Harlem Brundtland (the woman behind the Brundtland Report
and the first Rio meeting in 1992), and Dr. Pachauri (Nobel Laureate and
Chair of the IPCC)
The Sustainia Index
The Global Sustainability Monitor
The index will assess whether the world is on the right pathway over time,
and offers a ranking of nations according to their achievements, thereby
identifying the role models and providing a better understanding of how
countries and regions are performing. The index builds on indicators such
as GDP growth, innovation, equality, health, education, renewable energy,
natural resources and biodiversity and is the first index to combine economic- environmental- and social sustainability into one ranking.
The Sustainia Index allows us to see how far nations have come towards
making Sustainia a reality.
Sustainia’s virtual world
The global online construction site for the sustainable society
We are building Sustainia brick by brick on a virtual platform that allows
you to visit Sustainia – and even become a citizen of Sustainia.
For more information please visit www.sustainia.me
119 // INTRODUCING COPENHAGEN
FURTHER READING
25 eksempler på vellykket renovering, Grundejernes Investeringsfond,
2012 - Aftale om budget 2012, Københavns Kommune, 2011 - Architecture
and Quality of Life, Architects Council of Europe, 2004 - Befolkningsfremskrivning for København 2012-2026, Københavns Kommune Koncernservice Statistik, 2011 - Copenhagen Beyond Green, Green Growth Leaders,
2011 - Copenhagen: Solutions for sustainable cities, Københavns Kommune,
2011 - Cycling towards health and safety, British Medical Association,
1992 - Cykelpolitik 2002-2012, Københavns Kommune, 2002 - Danmarks
Miljøundersøgelser, Luftforurening med partikler i København, Miljøministeriet, 2003 - Danmark klar til nyt klima, Dansk Industri, 2012 - Daylight &
Architecture Issue 13, Velux Group, 2010 - Daylight & Architecture Issue 14,
Velux Group, 2010 - Det blir et yndigt land, Realdania & Mandag Morgen,
2012 - Det Grønne København, Parkpolitik, Københavns Kommune, 2003
- District Heating in Copenhagen - An Energy Efficient Low Carbon, and
Cost Effective Energy System, Danish Board of District Heating - Economic
Survey of Denmark 2012, OECD, 2012 - Eksponering for ultrafine partikler
fra trafikken i København, Miljøministeriet, 2005 - Energirenovering i fredede bygninger, Midtvejs Rapport, REALEA, 2009 - Energy Outlook 2030,
British Petroleum, 2011 - Environmental Programme for the City of Malmö
2009 – 2020, Malmö Stad, 2009 - Erhvervsstruktur og erhvervsbyggeri,
Københavns Kommune, 2011 - Fra god til verdens bedste. Københavns
cykelstrategi 2011-2025, Københavns Kommune, 2011 - Genopretning af
Harrestrup Å, Københavns Kommune, 2006 - Grønne tage det livgivende, klimatilpassede alternativ, Københavns Kommune, 2010 - Guide to
Sustainia, Sustainia, 2011 - Gullandsgården, Amager Copenhagen, Velux
Group, 2011 - Hvidbog Om Bygningsrenovering, Bygherreforeningen og
Grundejernes Investeringsfond, 2011 - International Energy Outlook 2011,
US Energy Information Administration, 2011 - Klimavenligt Pakhus på
Langelinie, COWI, 2012 - Kommuneplan 2011, Københavns Kommune, 2011
- Konklusioner fra Copenhagen Business Taskforce, Copenhagen Business
Taskforce, 2011 - Københavns Klimaplan, Københavns Kommune, 2009
- LIFE in the City - Innovative solutions for Europe’s urban environment,
European Comission, 2006 - Lommeparker, træer og andet grønt, Københavns Kommune, 2009 - Luftforurening med partikler – et sundhedsproblem, Aarhus Universitet, Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser, 2009 - Midtvejsmåling september 2011, Københavns Madhus, 2011 - Nordhavn – Urban
Strategy, Københavns Kommune, 2009 – Notat, Økonomiske konsekvenser
af retningslinjer for grønne tage, Københavns Kommune, 2010 - Overview
of the energy sector, Danish Energy Agency, 2012 - Pakhuset - en arkitektonisk perle med unik beliggenhed på Langelinie Allé, ATP Ejendomme - På
rundtur i renoveringslandskabet, Bygherreforeningen, 2012 - Reducing
Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008 - Spearhead Project – Valby Water Culture Center,
Københavns Kommune & Rambøll - Summer Temperature Variability May
Increase Mortality Risk for Elderly with Chronic Disease, Harvard School
of Public Health, 2012 – Sydhavnsskolen, JJW Arkitekter, 2011 - Tag Parken
i Lommen, Københavns Kommune, 2009 - The Danish Secret, Monday
Morning, 2009 - The Global Information Technology Report 2012 data
platform, World Economic Forum, 2012 - The World in 2025, Rising Asia
and Sociological Transition, European Commission, 2009 - Towards a new
innovation policy for green growth and welfare in the Nordic Region, Nordic Innovation, 2012 - Udstillingerne ”SKRALD!” og ”På Cykel i København”,
Københavns Bymuseum, 2010-2011 - Udvidelse af metroen - “Cityringen”,
Transportministeriet - Vidensblade for by og land – ”Den klimavenlige
by – økologiske potentialer”, Københavns Universitet, 2009 - Vindmøller
i Danmark, Energistyrelsen, 2009 - Vision for Harrestrup Å-system og
Kalveboderne, Københavns Kommune, 2007 - World Economic Outlook
2011, International Monetary Fund, 2011 - World Energy Outlook 2011,
International Energy Agency, 2011 - World Urbanization Prospects, The 2011
Revision, UN - Economic & Social Affairs, 2012.
120 // GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN 2025
PHOTOS INSIDE
Adam Mørk, p. 33 top – BBP Arkitekter, p. 32 top – Aron/Dan/Flickr, p. 77
(Beijing) - By & Havn/3XN, cover, p. 18, p. 29 top - City of Melbourne, p. 77
– Claus Starup/Bella Center, p. 107 – COBE, front page, cover, p. 12, p. 15
– COBE & Public Architects, cover, p. 109 – COBE & Sweco, p. 64-65 – Vestas Wind Systems A/S, p. 93 – Danielsen Architecture, cover, p 27 – Entasis
Architects, p. 105, p. 111 - Gitte Lontinga / Københavns Kommune, p. 61 –
HafenCity/ELBE@FLUT, p. 77 – JDS Architects, p. 32 middle, p. 106, p. 107
– JJW Architects, cover, p. 29 bottom, p. 34 top – Kiyong2/Flickr/Licensed
Under Creative Commons, p. 77 (Songpa) – Københavns Kommune, p. 69
- Københavns Museum, p. 75 – Lars Gundersen, p. 33 bottom - Lundgaard
& Tranberg Arkitekter A/S, p. 29 middle – Masdar City, p. 77 – Meik Wiking,
p. 90, p. 110 - Metroselskabet I/S, p. 58 – Mikael Colville-Andersen/ Copenhagen Media Center, p. 76 – Morten Jerichau/Copenhagen Media Center,
p. 25 - Olafur Eliasson, p. 79 - Project Zero, p. 77 (Sønderborg) – René
Strandbygaard/DSB, p. 57 – Steven Holl Architects/By & Havn, cover, p.
15-16 – Studio Bednarski/ Københavns Kommune, p. 50 - Torben Eskerud/
VELUX, p. 32 – Torvehallerne KBH, p. 106 – Utopian Cityscape, p. 20-12.
121 // INTRODUCING COPENHAGEN
The people behind Sustainia Guide to Copenhagen 2025
The idea and vision for this book has been developed by the partners of
Green Growth Leaders and Sustainia.
Editorial team
Jakob Anker Hansen, Solvej Karlshøj Christiansen, Meik Wiking and Morten
Jastrup
Special thanks to
TASK FORCE: Else Kloppenborg (Dong Energy), Eske Kock Pedersen (City
of Copenhagen), Ghita Borring (Velux), Lone Feifer (Velux), Mads Kruse (City
of Copenhagen), Kurt Emil Eriksen (Velux), Signe Gaarde (City of Copenhagen), and Stuart.D.Brewer (DNV) EXPERTS Anders Vikkelsø (DONG Energy),
Charles Nielsen (DONG Energy) , Christian Schaarup (DONG Energy), Didde
Fuhr (3XN Architetcs), Dorte Rømø (City of Copenhagen), Henrik Kærgaard
(NIRAS), Jacob M. Andersen (Carlsberg Properties), Jørn Ipsen (LyngbyTaarbæk Municipality), Lars Anker Angantyr (City of Copenhagen), Lærke
Flader (The Danish Electric Vehicle Alliance), Peter Presmann (By & Havn
- CPH City & Port), Anders Dyrelund (Rambøll), Signe Cold, (Entasis Architects), and Vivi Lena Andersen (Museum of Copenhagen).
Proofread
Justin Gerdes
Design
Michael Hernvig and Lisa Haglund
Get involved in Sustainia
Want to get involved in Sustainia? Please contact Executive Director Laura
Storm (lss@mm.dk)
Want to know more about Copenhagen in 2025?
Please contact Director Meik Wiking (mwi@mm.dk)
The Sustainia Secretariat
c/o Monday Morning
Valkendorfsgade 13, P.O. Box 1127
DK-1009 Copenhagen, Denmark
54
1P
rin t e
d m atte
5
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7
122 // A GUIDE COPENHAGEN 2025
FOREWORD
SUSTAINIA
Sustainia Founding Partners
Green Growth Leaders Founding Partners
Strategic Partners
Green Growth Leaders Strategic Partners
Sustainia Knowledge Partners
123 // FOREWORD
Urban gardening,
swarms of cyclists,
harbour baths, pocket
parks, smart city,
green roofs, sustainable shopping, urban
mining, and floating
cafés.
Get ready to explore
the sustainable capital of tomorrow!
The Sustainia Guide
to Copenhagen 2025
shows you how a
sustainable city is
a cleaner, greener,
healthier, smarter and
happier city.
A city with a higher
quality of life.
Welcome to Copenhagen in 2025
SUSTAINIA