The Climate Villages initiative in Skive Municipality is a new effort aimed at mobilizing two local communities to act collectively for a greener future. This project focuses on involving citizens, associations, businesses, and institutions in shared climate-friendly initiatives to build a sustainable and climate-responsible community. By fostering collaboration, the initiative seeks to reduce the carbon footprint through local action, decrease consumption, lower CO2 emissions, promote biodiversity, and support locally produced food. This video shows how the Climate Village works and how the participants experienced it!
Citizen involvement through 'The Future Shop'
A key aspect of the Climate Villages is its emphasis on citizen input and participation. The 'Future Shop' is an innovative pop-up space designed to gather residents' ideas and visions for their communities. In the film, you can see how this space serves as a forum where locals of all ages come together to share their thoughts on creating a greener, more sustainable environment. The shop is open for a week, offering flexible hours to ensure everyone has the chance to participate. Through discussions, activities, and anonymous feedback—whether in words, drawings, or on maps—residents have actively contributed to shaping the future of their villages. This inclusive approach not only fosters a sense of ownership among citizens but also ensures that the initiatives align with the community's desires and dreams.
Building a sustainable future on citizens’ terms
The Climate Villages initiative is fundamentally based on the wishes and input of the citizens. This level of engagement is crucial, not only for creating a sustainable and cohesive future where community, nature, and circular economy go hand in hand but also to ensure that the projects initiated are driven by the citizens' own aspirations for their communities. By doing so, the initiative creates a strong foundation for lasting change.
Skive Municipality aims to create inspiring examples of how local communities can come together to establish a sustainable and climate-friendly lifestyle.
The application process: Empowering communities
The application process to become a Climate Village was centered on citizen-led initiatives and engagement. To apply, the communities themselves had to form a broad-based coordination group and submit their project ideas. An informational meeting provided potential applicants with insights into the project's background, goals, and requirements. Subsequent workshops and support sessions were held to assist them in developing their ideas further.
All submitted applications included citizens' ideas for green actions that can strengthen community bonds and promote sustainability. These applications were reviewed by a working group, which then recommended the most promising projects to the Climate Committee. This committee, consisting of both citizens and politicians, ensured broad representation and involvement in the selection process. After careful evaluation, the Climate Committee submitted the best projects for political approval by the City Council.
Creating lasting impact
By basing the Climate Villages on citizen engagement and input, Skive Municipality aims to create inspiring examples of how local communities can come together to establish a sustainable and climate-friendly lifestyle. The experiences and initiatives from the Climate Villages will be shared with other communities and rural districts, amplifying the project's impact and encouraging a collective movement toward a greener future.
