Reduction Roadmap
Since 2022, the publication’s industry-specific carbon emission targets have transformed from merely theoretical targets to actual political and industry-wide impact in Denmark. Science-aligned, the Reduction Roadmap framework translates the physical limits of the Paris Agreement and safe operating space for climate stability into yearly thresholds. Based on the publication, Reduction Roadmap serves as more than a decision-making tool, proven capable of mobilising the construction industry to change legislation. Today, it is a publication-turned-NGO enabling change, with the team still updating its frameworks.
Reduction Roadmap – a science-based tool for target-setting
The Reduction Roadmap is an Earthshot project that, for the first time ever, translates the Paris Agreement and the Planetary Boundary for Climate Change into industry-specific reduction targets for Danish residential developments. The Reduction Roadmap identifies where we are today, where we need to go, and the speed at which we must reduce our carbon emissions to reach Earth’s safe operating space. The result is a science-based target-setting tool and a call to action for the Danish building industry, working to align all building industry actors with commitment to the Paris Agreement.
The Reduction Roadmap framework’s safe operating space data have been validated by BUILD, Aalborg University, Aarhus University, DTU, and the University of Southern Denmark. The Reduction Roadmap 1.0 (2022) was supported by the Boligbyggeri Fra 4 Til 1 Planet initiative.
Reduction Roadmap 2.0 – industry-wide political call changes legislation
In 2023, the Reduction Roadmap 2.0 was released, comprising over 90% of new construction in Denmark and updated data on the Planetary Boundaries.Initiated by the Reduction Roadmap team of CEBRA, EFFEKT, and Artelia, the building industry mobilised over 630 developers, municipalities, and construction specialists, calling on politicians to align the 2025 CO₂ threshold with the Reduction Roadmap 2.0. While not a full implementation, the historical movement contributed to a 40% tightening of the threshold in the Danish building code, effective in 2025. Following the campaign and based on the publication, the Reduction Roadmap curve was established as a scientifically grounded industry benchmark.
The Reduction Roadmap 2.0 was supported by Realdania (2023).
Reduction Roadmap becomes an association
Following the campaign’s political impact, the Reduction Roadmap has become an association with the purpose of empowering the construction industry as a change agent. No project or firm can do it alone. Therefore, we contribute to data-driven political decision-making through the established non-profit NGO Reduction Roadmap, working to translate science to industry-specific targets.
Alongside establishing the NGO, the Reduction Roadmap team has moved into its next phase, “Beyond the Roadmap”. This report builds on the Reduction Roadmap 2.0 and expands its focus from CO₂ reduction alone to include new targets for core Earth Systems: Climate Stability and Functioning Ecosystems, which are interdependent for minimising the footprint and restoring land.
Learn more about all Reduction Roadmap initiatives and sign up as a supporting member of the Reduction Roadmap NGO here.
