ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

The appreciation of ‘ugly’ fruit and vegetables in Denmark

The Danish initiative EatGrim puts ‘ugly’ fruit and vegetables which would otherwise be thrown away in boxes and sells these at affordable prices. The food is supplied by farmers in Europe and delivered to people in Denmark every week. The main objectives are to reduce food waste and change attitudes around food values. For instance, the initiative teaches people that bad-looking food is perfectly fit for consumption. Moreover, the initiative has a clear mission of reducing climate impact. Since the war in Ukraine, food security has also become an important focus.

By women, for farmers
Two young Danish women, Carolin and Petra, founded and lead EatGrim. The initiative empowers European farmers as they are paid fair wages: a large part of what is paid for the vegetable boxes goes directly to the farmers. EatGrim’s motto shows that inclusion lies at the heart of the initiative: ‘we celebrate all colors, shapes and sizes – with both people and food’.

Raising awareness
EatGrim also carries out actions such as awareness raising and advocacy. Through Instagram they share info graphics with facts and numbers about food waste around the world and attempt to raise awareness about climate change.

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ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Volunteer-run café in Copenhagen pursues a more just and sustainable world

Kafé Mellemrummet is a café in Copenhagen run by volunteers. The café hosts lively events relating to the climate crisis and global inequalities. Moreover, it offers organic and fair-trade food to promote sustainable food habits. The profits of the café support global projects on sustainability and justice.

The café is owned and managed by ActionAid Denmark, a movement that fights for a more just and sustainable world without discrimination, climate crises and poverty. It is active in more than 45 countries around the world, including Denmark.

Support for projects
The volunteers in the café are mostly young people and international students. Every year, they choose one project to support. In 2022-2023 the project is youth hubs for women’s rights in Nepal. In 2020-2021 it was political and feminist leadership training in Uganda. All projects are located in the Global South and specifically target vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Events for equality
The café hosts events about the struggles of specific vulnerable groups, such as sexism and racism, often led by the representative members of the same vulnerable group. The events happen on a continuous basis. For example, in August 2022 at least 2 to 3 weekly different activities took place.

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ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Danish NGO defends the rights of people in the Global South with a local approach

Global Aktion (Global Action) is an NGO involved in defending people’s rights through dozens of campaigns and projects, many of which focus on the Global South. They do so by lobbying with Global North governments, such as the Danish government, the United Nations and the European Union; raising awareness amongst the public; and opposing corporations profiting from land grabbing and other unsustainable and unjust practices. The values and objectives of the organisation are deeply rooted in a form of environmentalism which sees vulnerable groups as being at the core of the climate crisis.

For people in the Global South
The main target groups are populations from the Global South which suffer from the climate crisis the most – both at present and according to forecasts. In particular, they have projects focusing on women, children, migrants, refugees, workers.

Considering local context
Most activities take place in Denmark. Yet, Global Aktion has collaborators in the Global South for which an extensive ‘partners approach’ has been developed. The NGO writes: “Global Aktion is a solidarity movement and therefore it is important to establish projects with partners based on the needs and struggles they face in their local contexts.”

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ACCTING aims to understand how Green Deal policies impact vulnerable groups to help prevent the worsening of inequalities in the green transition. Now in its second cycle, the project has selected case studies that explore real-world initiatives addressing the involvement of vulnerable communities in sustainability initiatives

Pictures: © Pariman Boostani [used with permission]

From “Store Hus” to “Solhuset”

Formerly known as “Store Hus” (Large House), the building was renamed “Solhuset” (Sun House) to accompany the efforts to make the building energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. This transition was led by Steen Jørgensen, the former Vice-chairman of Avedøre District Heating, in partnership with the district heating company’s administrator EBO Consult. As part of this transformation, 60 solar panels were installed on the roof, along with 160 polycrystalline solar panels on the south facade of the building. These solar panels generate enough energy to supply 75-100% of the hot water needs for the building’s 454 apartments from April to September. In addition to hot water generation, the solar panels produce around 21,000 kWh of electricity per year, thus reduce the building’s dependence on traditional power grids and further contributing to the building’s sustainability goals. This green energy initiative is not only reducing carbon emissions but also helping low-income tenants cut down on their utility bills.

Creating ownership and community

One of the most notable aspects of Solhuset is the active participation of its residents. The residents are not just mere beneficiaries of the energy project, they are actively involved in decision-making. Through representation on the building’s board, they have the right to vote on every decision that affects their community. This level of involvement has created a strong sense of ownership and community, allowing residents to have a direct say in the future of their living environment. This engagement ensures that the solutions implemented are tailored to the real needs of the people who live there, making the project both effective and inclusive.

Picture: © EBO Consult [used with permission]

A symbol of both sustainable living and community empowerment, the Solhuset project also hosts workshops that teach residents about sustainable living practices, encouraging long-term behavioural change and a deeper understanding of sustainability. The success of Solhuset, Denmark’s first citizen-led energy community, shows what can be achieved when people come together with a shared vision for sustainability. The project’s emphasis on local, sustainable energy and community participation offers valuable lessons for other housing developments and municipalities looking to reduce energy poverty and create environmentally sustainable communities.

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ACCTING aims to understand how Green Deal policies impact vulnerable groups to help prevent the worsening of inequalities in the green transition. Now in its second cycle, the project has selected case studies that explore real-world initiatives addressing the involvement of vulnerable communities in sustainability initiatives

Universitetets Energifællesskab: Crowdfunding Solar Energy

The initiative started from the EU project AURORA, endeavouring to implement energy communities at 5 European universities and local district councils. In Aarhus, Denmark, this led to the creation of Universitetets Energifællesskab (UEF), Aarhus’ first energy community, officially registered with the Danish Business Authority in September 2023. At the heart of UEF is the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels on Aarhus University’s campus. The project follows the Danish cooperative model (andelstanken) allowing participants to become co-owners of the solar energy installation by purchasing shares in the cooperative. Members of the cooperative receive annual economic returns based on the shares they own, which adds a financial incentive to their environmental participation. The electricity generated by the solar panels is sold back to Aarhus University at a fixed price, ensuring a sustainable and economically viable energy source for the campus.

Solar photovoltaic panels on Aarhus University’s rooftop

The role of students in the energy transition

While energy poverty may not be as pronounced in Aarhus as it is in other regions, students are considered a vulnerable group as most do not own homes and lack the financial resources to invest in green projects. To address this, UEF has set a low cost for shares, allowing students to participate in the energy community and take an active role in the green transition without significant financial barriers. This inclusivity ensures that students, often an overlooked group in major energy projects, have a stake in shaping a sustainable future while gaining hands-on experience in renewable energy initiatives.

An inspiring community based on active participation

One of UEF’s defining features is its commitment to community participation. Citizens of Aarhus, particularly AU students and staff, are not only co-owners of the solar installation but are also deeply involved in the decision-making process. Meetings, discussions, and workshops are held to foster a deeper understanding of the energy sector and its impact on climate change and inform members about the project’s progress. The project actively communicates through social media (in English), ensuring that the broader community stays informed and engaged.

The inauguration at Aarhus University

The project is not only a success for Aarhus University and the city of Aarhus but also an inspiring example of how cities can involve their residents in the green transition. By adopting a cooperative, citizen-led approach to energy production, UEF demonstrates that even groups with limited financial resources, like students, can have a meaningful role in contributing to climate goals.

Pictures: ©UEF [used with permission]

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Photo by Mert Kahveci from Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Asiliki Miliadi; Nikos Zaharis and Dilay Celebi Gonidis within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Clean Energy research line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives. 

Hvide Sande Wind Farm, Denmark

Local ownership for the benefit citizens 

The local enterprise model for ownership of local wind turbines has been highly successful, enabling residents and local communities to be the driving force behind the shift to the usage of renewable energy in Europe. Denmark is on track to meet its 2050 goal of using only renewable energy sources for transportation, heating, and power. This future-oriented project has several advantages among these:  

• Cooperation: The initiative is an inspirational example of local collaboration, showing how businesses and residents work together to generate income for the area, while benefiting from a low-cost, clean, and fossil-free energy source. 
• Economic advantages: The turbines are co-financing the new harbour facilities and other local infrastructure and provide green energy solutions. A well-functioning modern harbour positively impacts the town’s employment and revenue generation. The Hvide Sande socio-economic model can be replicated in many other regions. 
• Positive changes: Creating visionary projects within the community has a significant favourable psychological effect on citizens; It increases their self-esteem and optimism. 

This initiative has shown that the supply of renewable energy can benefit the community and the planet as long as it is well-organized and considers the residents’ attitudes and needs. 

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Photo: Julia Koblitz on Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Lucia di Paola and Daniel Botha within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Clean Energy Research Line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Måbjerg BioEnergy, Denmark

An innovative project tackling agriculture challenges 

Måbjerg BioEnergy is a project situated in Måbjerg, an area on the outskirts of Holstebro town in Western Denmark – one of Denmark’s most important agricultural areas.  

The project was a solution to environmental problems arising from the agricultural sector. While this is a significant part of the local economy, concerns emerged about the consequences of run-off from local animal production. The resultant manure is typically spread onto fields in the area, but this was found to release worrying amounts of nitrogen, seeping into the fields in question, with negative environmental impacts in the form of water eutrophication in local wetlands. With these wetlands being newly designated as habitat areas by the EU, the local agricultural industry was forced to change its practices. 

Plans for a better future 

In response to this, a group of local farmers, worked with larger institutional stakeholders to initiate the development of a biogas plant. This allows the manure in question to be converted into biogases (primary methane) used to produce heat and electricity. The by-products from this process are also harvested and used as fertilizer and fuel for further energy production. At the time of completion (2012), the biogas plant was the largest in the world, with a capacity of handling 560,000 tons of biomass annually and producing 18.4 million cubic meters of biogas.  

The vulnerable target group for this initiative was local animal farmers – an example of workers in carbon-intensive industries who, faced with new environmental regulations, find their source of employment placed under threat.   

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Photo: Karolina Grabowska

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Lucia di Paola and Daniel Botha  within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the Climate Action research Line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Youth Green Movement, Denmark

A youth-led project for a brighter future

The Youth Green Movement (previously the Green Student Movement) is a Danish group of young climate activists fighting for a greener future with a biodiversity and climate crisis mindset. It is a volunteer-led movement eager to solve the climate crises challenges and reduce the damages. The initiative is open to all youth, as they are/will be the most affected group by the climate crisis.  

Although highly educated white people are leading the project, the members strive to be more inclusive of marginalised groups within the youth (LGBTQ+, BIPOCs, etc.)- It is clearly stated on the website that membership is open to all “Without education, under-educated, unemployed, in work. All genders, gender identities, sexualities, skin colours, bodies and minds are welcome in our community.”  

A promising vision for Denmark

The initiative is independent of party politics and strives for a flat organizational structure. The project main actions, in terms of advocacy and requests, are:  

• Advocating for the polluters
• Establishing an official citizen’s assembly to discuss sustainability-related matter  
• Calculating and reducing Danish emissions produced outside Denmark 

In the Green Youth Movement, six-monthly large meetings are held, where members discuss the movement’s overall focus and objectives. Attendees participate in demonstrations, climate actions (called “Climate Army”), lectures and various events to disseminate their ideas and advocacy work. Besides, the project took part in significant activities such as the Roskilde Festival, the largest festival in Denmark (130 000 participants) and one of the biggest in the world.

Find out more here.

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