Copenhagen

Latest

1. Climate and energy · 20 OCT 2026

   Copenhagen starts collecting nappy waste for recycling

   Copenhagen began collecting used nappies for recycling on 19 October 2026, starting with apartment buildings with at least six young children and municipal day-care centres, and expects to collect 5,000 tonnes once the scheme is fully implemented in 2029.

   Facts and source

   • Copenhagen has started collecting nappy waste for recycling.
   • About 50 million nappies a year are currently thrown out for incineration in the municipality.
   • The city expects to collect 5,000 tonnes of nappy waste once the scheme is fully in place in 2029.

   Source: Københavns Kommune, “Nu skal københavnerne sortere bleer til genanvendelse”

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2. Regeneration and housing · 7 OCT 2026

   Copenhagen moves to cut waiting times for local development plans

   Copenhagen's Climate, Environment and Technical Committee on 5 October 2026 delegated final adoption of simple local plans to officials, saving about 11 weeks per case, and approved a trial in which developers draft three local plans.

   Facts and source

   • Officials are to be able to adopt simple local plans themselves, without political approval.
   • As a trial, developers are to be allowed to write draft local plans themselves.
   • A catalogue of measures was presented to politicians on Monday 5 October.

   Source: Københavns Kommune, “København sætter fuld fart på sagsbehandlingen af lokalplaner”

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3. Regeneration and housing · 6 OCT 2026

   Copenhagen approves six new resident-led city-life streets

   Copenhagen's Climate, Environment and Technical Committee has approved six resident-proposed city-life streets in Christianshavn, Nørrebro, Østerbro and Vesterbro, chosen in a third round that drew 33 ideas, with work expected to start in spring 2027.

   Facts and source

   • The six new streets are in Christianshavn, Nørrebro, Østerbro and Vesterbro.
   • The round drew 33 project ideas, and the city-life funds have received 167 applications in total.
   • Work on the six streets is expected to begin in spring 2027.

   Source: Københavns Kommune, “Seks nye bylivsgader på vej”

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4. Climate and energy · 18 SEPT 2026

   Copenhagen revives its expert group on air pollution

   Copenhagen is re-establishing an expert group on air pollution, with DKK 4.6 million set aside in the city budget for 2027 to 2030 and up to 13 members advising on how to cut residents' exposure.

   Facts and source

   • The city budget sets aside DKK 4.6 million to set up and run the expert group from 2027 to 2030.
   • The expert group will have up to 13 members.
   • A similar expert group advised the city from 2019 to 2023.

   Source: Københavns Kommune, “Ekspertgruppe genopstår for at sætte fokus på ren luft i København”

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5. Mobility · 9 SEPT 2026

   Copenhagen consults residents on whether Langebro bridge should keep opening

   Copenhagen has opened a six-week public consultation on whether Langebro should keep opening for ships, with renovation estimated at more than DKK 400 million for an opening bridge and more than DKK 200 million for a fixed one.

   Facts and source

   • A six-week public consultation runs from 9 September.
   • Renovating the bridge so that it can still open would cost more than DKK 400 million.
   • Renovating it as a non-opening bridge would cost more than DKK 200 million.

   Source: Københavns Kommune, “Nu starter høringen om Langebros fremtid”

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City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is matched automatically against the source text before publication, without an editor approving it first.

Projects we track

4 projects · 3 under way

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  CULTIGEN: community-shaped tourism

  An EU-funded project building a data-driven tourism governance model, with a photo-voice app and local ambassadors, to spread visitors to less central neighbourhoods. It runs from December 2024 to May 2028.

  Budget EUR 3,753,408.64 (ERDF granted) Funded by European Urban Initiative (ERDF) Culture

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Lynetteholm peninsula and storm-surge protection

  A new peninsula between Refshaleøen and Nordhavn, filled with surplus soil from building sites, that forms part of Copenhagen's storm-surge protection. A 60-hectare coastal landscape is planned, with a first stage due to open around 2029.

  Funded by By & Havn Climate and energy

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Six new city-life streets

  Residents' proposals for six greener, traffic-calmed streets in Nørrebro, Vesterbro, Østerbro and Christianshavn were approved in October 2026. Work is expected to start in spring 2027.

  Regeneration and housing

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Nappy waste collection for recycling

  Since 19 October 2026 the city has been placing bins for nappy waste at blocks of flats with young children and at municipal day-care centres; a treatment plant in Hvidovre starts operating in February 2027.

  Climate and energy

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

EU programmes and networks

• Eurocities Eurocities Member city ›
• EU Cities Mission EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 Mission City ›
• European Urban Initiative · 2024 European Urban Initiative, Innovative Actions: CULTIGEN Lead city of an Innovative Actions project on sustainable tourism (2024-2028) ›
• European title · 2014 European Green Capital European Green Capital 2014 ›

From the archive

• City profile · May 2024 Discover the Enchanting Green and Blue Delights of Copenhagen: A Vibrant City of Culture, Hygge, and Sustainable Living