The City of Aarhus hosts its first GLEAM NSR City Dialogue with three sector organizations Aarhus Håndværkerforening, TEKNIQ, and DI Bygger to learn about the needs of tradespeople.
With the population of Aarhus growing by nearly 5,000 new residents each year, congestion and emissions are pressing concerns — particularly from the transport sector, which is projected to account for two-thirds of the city’s CO₂ emissions by 2030. In response, the City of Aarhus, alongside Aarhus Håndværkerforening, DI Byggeri Østjylland, and TEKNIQ, hosted a targeted City Dialogue meeting on June 2nd to engage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the construction and trade sectors in shaping greener transport solutions.
The event, held at Bytømren Aarhus, marked the city’s first focused dialogue with SMEs in this sector regarding transport transition — an important step following a recent municipal analysis, which revealed that the craft and trade sector accounts for the largest number of vehicles circulating in the city.
Listening to SMEs: Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities
Until now, municipal efforts to reduce emissions from vehicle fleets have mainly centered on large companies. Through the GLEAM NSR project, Aarhus Municipality is broadening this approach to better understand and support SMEs. The dialogue meeting was designed to explore the specific needs, challenges, and opportunities these businesses face in reducing transport emissions, while still maintaining efficient service to customers.
Participants discussed topics such as:
- Barriers to adopting electric vehicles, including range limitations, insufficient charging infrastructure, and vehicle payload capacity.
- The potential for shared transport, including carpooling, use of bicycles, and public transport.
- The importance of integrating practical solutions into urban development, such as tool storage at green spaces to reduce unnecessary transport.
The discussions were supported by insights from sector leaders, including Dennis Abildgaard, CEO at Bytømren, and Peter Bosteen, CEO at Hessellund & Rokkedal El A/S, who shared experiences from their own green transitions.
A Sector Already Making Strides
Companies like BUUS Anlægsgartner A/S demonstrated that progress is possible. They shared that over 60% of their fleet is now electric:
It was difficult in the beginning; we encountered some resistance from employees, who had prejudices about EV capabilities. Today, things run smoothly, employees are happy, and as a company, we save around DKK 20,000 + VAT per vehicle in operating costs. It makes sense — for the climate and the business.
Partnerships Key to Progress
The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration, with sector organizations playing a crucial role in bringing businesses to the table. Their knowledge, active promotion of the event, and engagement in the process made them strong partners for the city.
This dialogue also reflects a broader context of change in Aarhus, including a new climate action plan, green mobility initiatives, and business development strategies. By connecting directly with SMEs, the municipality is gaining new insights to inform policies and support mechanisms tailored to the needs of smaller businesses.
With these first steps, Aarhus is paving the way for more inclusive collaboration on sustainable urban mobility — ensuring both people and businesses can thrive in a greener, growing city.
More city dialogues with new stakeholders to come!