Anders Lendager is contemplating the practicalities of a new 20-story skyscraper in Aarhus, Denmark. And this one is all about practicality. It's not just any skyscraper. This one, built last year in the port district of Sydhavnen, is made of wood and recycled material. In fact, it is Denmark's tallest wooden building. TRÆ is Lendager's creation, inspired by the climate crisis and years of pushing the limits of what you can, and can't, reuse in a building. "We wanted to show what is possible," says Lendager, who runs his eponymous Danish-Icelandic architecture firm. Lendager's creation — and indeed, Aarhus itself — is a powerful reminder that the world we live in is a finite resource. Denmark's second city has moved beyond aspirational climate goals. It has internalized the Nordic sensibility that security, safety, and high quality of life are inseparable from environmental integrity. How Aarhus is becoming a sustainable tourist destination Here are some of the city's sustainability highlights: Climate target: The overriding objective of the climate plan is achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Energy transition: The city phased out coal energy a decade ago and is switching to geothermal heating. Waste as a resource: Waste is integrated into the city's energy supply, with the municipal incinerator facility burning around 42 percent of collected waste to produce electricity and warm water, supplying 16 percent of the heat consumed by the district heating system. Only about 2 percent of waste ends up as landfill. Green shipping incentives: The Port of Aarhus established Denmark's first shore power facility for cruise ships in 2023, allowing docked ships to connect to green electricity from Danish wind turbines. But to really see how sustainable Aarhus has become, you have to visit. This region offers everything from climate-change-proof streets to back-to-nature accommodations. And its sustainability leaders