Danish Policies

How can global change start locally?
The success or failure of climate and energy initiatives often rests with the individual. Usually it is the day-to-day decisions of local people that ultimately determine if an initiative will be successful. The Danish initiative EcoCities is a local way of encouraging lasting climate and energy improvements. Six Danish municipalities have been designated EcoCities to exemplify the way in which municipalities can address global climate and energy challenges. Designated EcoCities have fulfilled 10 climate-friendly criteria and made special efforts in key areas of energy saving.

The EcoCities initiative therefore calls for broad involvement of the general public, backed by local policies to ensure a green future for the cities. The goal is to engage other municipalities in climate and energy efforts by sharing valuable know-how acquired by the EcoCities and their inhabitants.


Harbour baths at Islands Brygge, Copenhagen. Photo: Nicolai Perjesi

How big is your water footprint?
During COP15 all the water served to delegates came directly from the tap. Today, clean water is taken for granted in Denmark due to progressive water policies. Denmark’s long campaign to improve water quality has involved many separate initiatives such as cleaning waste water and sewage, regulating and reducing the use and discharge of fertilizers from agriculture, and banning the use of chemicals that contaminate groundwater. Today there is a growing awareness of the water footprint that individual consumers and businesses leave behind. For instance: it takes up to 10 litres of water to produce one plastic bottle of less than one litre in capacity! That is the main reason why COP15 chose tap water over the normal conference solution. 


What is “The Danish example”?
Climate change is nothing new. What is new is that on a global scale countries are now recognizing the need to take action before it is too late. Like many other nations around the world, Denmark is focusing on how to help prevent further climate changes by introducing “green” policies on many levels. On a national level, energy and environmental policies have served Denmark well over the last 25 years. In that period Denmark’s economy has grown by around 75% – with almost unchanged energy consumption. The Danish example is drawn from experience. The figures show that with a persistent and active energy policy focused on increasing energy efficiency, it is possible to maintain high economic growth while reducing the dependency on fossil fuels and safeguarding the environment. For the business community, climate change represents an impending market shift – one that will both alter existing markets and create new ones. The most recent initiative to accommodate the market shift is the Danish business climate strategy. The Danish business climate strategy includes growth potentials in multiple sectors resulting from climate change, and both international and national demands for reductions in CO2 emissions. And just like EcoCities and water management, it proves the point that to bring about change, action is often required at local level to have a global impact.

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RELATED ARTICLES

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EcoCities – inspiration for the future of your city
The Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy has designated six Danish municipalities as EcoCities. These EcoCities are forerunners in the field of climate and energy, cities where special
efforts have been made to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.

Clean water
Providing clean water is a major challenge for the global community. In Denmark today, clean water is taken for granted. It took a great deal of political will and years of focused legislation, research, innovative technology and investment to get there.

“The Danish Example” – the way to an energy efficient and energy friendly economy
Danish experience shows that through persistent and active energy policy focus on enhanced energy efficiency, it is possible to sustain high economic growth and at the same time reduce fossil fuel dependency and protect the environment.

The Danish Business Climate Strategy
Denmark has already demonstrated that it is possible to cut carbon emissions while maintaining welfare spending and economic growth. From 1990 to 2007 Danish economic activity has grown by more than 45%. At the same time, Denmark has reduced its CO2 emissions by 13%.

The Danish Model
The basic principle of the Danish welfare system, often referred to as the Scandinavian welfare model, is that all citizens have equal rights to social security. Within the Danish welfare system, a number of services are available to citizens, free of charge.

Green IT
IT is responsible for two percent of the world's total emission of CO2. At the same time, IT contains the key to reducing the remaining 98 percent of CO2 emissions. In other words, IT is not only a part of the problem, but also very much a part of the solution to the climate challenge. Therefore, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has drawn up an Action Plan for Green IT.

COP15 Climate Scholarship
In line with the overall aim of securing a climate friendly Climate Conference, the Danish Government has decided not to give any gifts or conference-kits for COP15 participants. The resources saved is instead used to create the ‘COP15 Climate Scholarship', which gives a number of international students the opportunity to pursue a masters degree within climate change studies at a university in Denmark.

Green Research
Green research is an important area - not merely to improve the climate and environment of the world, but also to ensure employment and export in Denmark. Therefore, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has launched the strategic proposition "Green Research - Status and Perspectives".

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