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Mayor Bundsgaard’s inspiring fight for a greener and safer Aarhus
Jacob Bundsgaard is a Danish politician and the current mayor of Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city. 46- year old Bundsgaard was born in Aarhus and grew up in Brabrand and Skødstrup. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Aarhus University. Among his main priorities are social equality, affordable housing, fighting climate change, and making Aarhus more sustainable.
At a young age, mayor Bundsgaard attended an exchange in the American state of Texas which he describes as an eye-opening experience. The inequity he witnessed in American society convinced him of the importance of a strong welfare state that assists those in need. Since then, mayor Bundsgaard has been driven by a desire to contribute to the creation of a society that provides equal opportunities for all. To this day, he stayed devoted to making Aarhus a safer and greener city, as well as a city of equality.
During his mayoral term, a lot of positive changes have been achieved on all fronts in Aarhus. Important climate targets have been reached and numerous initiatives to improve the safety in the city were started. Mayor Bundsgaard pays special attention to Aarhus’ elderly residents and always makes sure that their needs are properly addressed. The city has also made a major shift towards more sustainable mobility options.
Bundsgaard was invited to a White House conference on anti-radicalization in February 2015 by then-US President Barack Obama. The invitation resulted from a growing interest in the Aarhus model, which is a strategy for combating extremism among young people. The Aarhus model is based on preventing radicalization by working with at-risk citizens to improve their chances of inclusion in society and help them develop better life skills.
In 2017, Jacob Bundsgaard published a book titled ‘Rodskud’ in collaboration with Vibe Klarup, chairman of the Volunteer Council, and Johannes Lundsfryd, chairman of the Social Democratic city council group in Middelfart Municipality. The book primarily dealt with the importance of the role of citizens in the development of society. The publication paid tribute to grassroots movements and civil society’s ability to solve societal problems from the bottom up. This inspiring leader continues his fight for a better Aarhus and is guaranteed to succeed. (photo credit: Aarhus official website)
