A sustainability-driven country

Angela Gregory recently visited Denmark, and discovered a sustainability-driven country not-so-poles-apart from New Zealand.

When Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen was asked in a recent interview how a small country like Denmark could stand out globally he provided three words.

“Creative, green and life quality”.

Ring a bell?

They may lie at opposing sides of the world but New Zealand and Denmark have much in common.

Far from being polar opposites, this is where the similarities actually begin.

The relatively small countries are of a similar pop size (New Zealand 4.3, million, Denmark 5.5 million) and physically lie on the fringes of larger economies.

Both nations have a sense of vulnerability, but their generally well-educated citizens carry an air of can-do pride and resilience.

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The people are friendly, both national pyches exuding more of an understated confidence than say the trademark European arrogance or Australian/American brashness.

The countries offer quality lifestyles that usually place them at the top of global surveys, and are big agricultural producers with all the problems that can come with that.

They both pride themselves on a clean-green image, even when it is not entirely deserved.

Both are keen to make significant progress towards becoming 100 percent renewable energy - New Zealand in part by default thanks to its massive hydropower resources, and Denmark by determination thanks to the seventies oil crises.

Now the world’s increasingly green eye will be sharply focused on Denmark later this year as the country in December hosts the all-important Cop 15 (15th Conference of the Parties) to achieve a new international agreement to replace the Kyoto protocol.

The highest body of the United Nation’s Climate Change Convention consists of environmental ministers who meet once a year.

The global leaders will set new targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and seek solutions beyond 2012.

As they fly in from all corners of the globe they will from the air see Denmark’s many wind generators, the country’s arm-waving ambassadors for sustainability.

Jakob Andersen, the Danish trade commissioner in New Zealand, wants to see more Danish ambassadors of the wind technology type here.

Already Denmark supplies New Zealand with its wind generators, the most recent example at the Meridian wind farm near Wellington.

He even sees potential for New Zealand to manufacture some parts of wind generators here, instead of Asia.

Andersen says despite early opposition against the proliferation of wind generators in Denmark, the Danish population is now highly supportive of the wind energy industry.

In a survey, 91 percent said ‘yes’ when asked if Denmark should continue putting up more wind turbines to increase production of electricity from wind power.

“Danes are generally proud of Danish wind turbines and the Danish wind energy industry.”

Nearly eight in ten Danes think wind turbines are a positive symbol for Denmark and just as many believe that as much as possible of Denmark's electricity should be covered by wind energy.

“Further, people with wind turbines close to their houses are more positive towards having new wind turbines in the area than people who doesn't have wind turbines nearby.”

Denmark turned to wind and other renewable forms of energy as a consequence of the mid-1970’s global oil crises.

The there were then two countries in world what were 99 percent dependent on imported energy – Japan and Denmark.

Kristian Olesen, of the Climate Consortium in Denmark, says the country, uncomfortable at is vulnerability, quickly began looking at alternatives.

“We took some very big decisions and as a result are 40 years ahead of the pack with renewable energies and well poised to dominate the world market.”

From solar, wind and biomass Denmark now enjoys the highest contribution to electricity from renewables from new (note the word NEW…eg nz renewables are mainly hydro and not new) technologies in the world.

Presently 20 percent of the Denmark’s electricity comes from renewables with the aim for 50 percent by 2030.

Olesen says Denmark exports US $10 billion in this area and hopes to more than treble that in the coming decade. Sustainable technology is the fastest growing export out of Denmark.

The Climate Consortium, a public-private partnership between the Danish state and five major business organisations, was set up last year to market Danish clean-tech businesses.

It wants to make Danish solutions and competencies visible and coordinate business-related activities in connection with Cop15.

Already Denmark has one of the EU’s most ambitious targets, to reduce the country’s carbon emissions by 21 percent in the period 2008-12 relative to 1990

“We are trending down with emissions but admit we may not be able to meet the 2012 target,” says Olesen.

The country has taken many steps to save energy.

It has decentralised its heat and power production, introduced high energy standards for buildings, energy labeling,, public campaigns for energy savings, taxes on energy consumption, tax deductions to ‘go green’, and instigated energy saving agreements with industries.

Olesen says the country still burns 60-70 percent coal in its power producing incinerators, but increasingly uses biofuels like straw. The ashes are sold to the building industry for gib-board or plaster, emissions filtered, and ongoing research into carbon capture.

“We are making progress.”

Olesen says Denmark has de-linked economic growth and energy consumption, making it a leader among EU countries. Since 1980 the Danish economy grew by 78 percent while energy consumption remained more or less constant. From 1990 to 2007 economic activity increased by more than 45 percent, while CO2 emissions from energy use were reduced by more than 13 percent.

Its big national emitters are agriculture which is heavily taxed, and transport including the Maesk shipping company.

The country aims to be carbon neutral by 2050

“We want to be an example to the world.”

Aiming to lead the world is Pers Streenstrup.…(or pull out)

ENDS

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