Inside Copenhagen’s race to be the first carbon-neutral city

Green growth and 'hedonistic sustainability' have helped keep the public on board as the Danish capital seeks to reach its goal by 2025 - and so far it's all going according to plan

"We call it hedonistic sustainability," says Jacob Simonsen of the decision to put an artificial ski slope on the roof of the 485m Amager Resource Centre (Arc), Copenhagen's cutting-edge new waste-to-energy power plant. "It's not just good for the environment, it's good for life."

Skiing is just one of the activities that Simonsen, Arc's chief executive, and Bjarke Ingels, its lead architect, hope will enhance the latest jewel in Copenhagen's sustainability crown. The incinerator building also incorporates hiking and running trails, a street fitness gym and the world's highest outdoor climbing wall, an 85-metre "natural mountain" complete with overhangs that rises the full height of the main structure.