Aarhus Region in Denmark speeds from climate ambitions to concrete action

In spring 2026, CliNeDest partner destinations, among them VisitAarhus, ran a first phase of practical climate action training for tourism businesses. The training consisted of four workshops, two in person and two online, combined with homework and individual sparring sessions between the workshops.

In total, 14 tourism companies in Aarhus including attractions, museums, accommodation, restaurants, conference venues and cultural institutions took part in the first phase of training. Among them Kattegatcentret, Djurs Sommerland, Det Grønne Museum, Musikhuset Aarhus and Restaurant Hærværk. Some had years of experience with certifications and climate initiatives, while others were just starting out.

The companies started by learning the basics of carbon accounting and the GHG Protocol. They then worked with their own data to calculate scope 1 and 2 emissions and selected scope 3 categories. The companies used the Climate Compass tool and the online Climate Smart Business Toolkit developed in the CliNeDest project to identify their emission hotspots. As a result of these workshops, the companies started or finalised their carbon footprint calculation and made a draft reduction plan with three to five concrete actions.

From ambition to priorities

“Many tourism businesses are already doing a lot to reduce their environmental impact. But if you want to work strategically, you need to know where your emissions actually come from. CliNeDest helps turn sustainability ambitions into data, priorities and concrete actions”, says Kirstine Simoni Faurholt, Project Manager at VisitAarhus.

According to evaluation, all 12 respondents had either completed (5) or started (7) calculating their carbon footprint. Most had also completed (3) or begun (6) developing a climate-friendly business plan. The main remaining challenge is finding enough time and staff resources to continue the work, but the process is well and professionally under way.

An example: Kattegatcentret

Kattegatcentret in Grenaa shows how the project adds value even for companies that are already ahead. As an aquarium, it has a high energy demand and has invested in solar panels and groundwater cooling for its penguin facilities, using cold water pumped up from a depth of 60–70 metres.

By mapping its emissions in the workshops, the centre gained a more systematic overview of where its climate impact actually arises and where further efforts will make the biggest difference. For companies like this, CliNeDest is not about starting from scratch, but about structuring existing efforts and prioritising the next steps based on data.

Long-term value of the transnational cooperation

For VisitAarhus the project is a chance to improve understanding of the climate work that really can create added value in tourism sector. It is not only about calculating CO2 but a lot more. One of the key discussions among the partner destinations has been:
– How a tourism company can be supported to create appealing low carbon offerings and what needs to be taken into account to make it work?
The Toolkit was co-created in transnational cooperation, which enabled taking  a more holistic approach, including the views of customers and policy context in a particular country.

The partners get to test practical tools with real businesses and learn what works in practice. The CliNeDest Toolkit offers templates and step-by-step guidance that companies can later apply directly in their own organisations, and the pilot has provided valuable feedback on how to make the tools simple and flexible enough for different types and sizes of businesses.

“The long-term value in Aarhus is that we are building knowledge and practical tools that we can keep using in our dialogue with tourism businesses. The ambition is that the learning from CliNeDest becomes part of our broader work on business development and destination development”, says Kirstine Simoni Faurholt

The work also complements the national project Sustainable Destinations in Practice 2.0, where 16 destination companies develop climate action plans and CO₂ roadmaps for Danish tourism.

In the next phase, VisitAarhus and the other CliNeDest partners will shift the focus from understanding emissions towards developing climate-smart services and experiences and communicating them credibly to guests, linking climate data, business development and the appealing guest experience as a whole.

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