Climate change mitigation - National Responses (Denmark)

The Danish strategy for adaptation to a changing climate was adopted in 2008. Due to the uncertainties in the impact of climate change, the strategy is based on a flexibility approach with respect to defining initiatives and measures. The first initiative was to establish an information centre for climate change adaptation which is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the webportal www.klimatilpasning.dk, to identify a research strategy that focuses on research in climate change adaptation and set up an organisational structure of cross-sector coordination of initiatives. Included in the strategy is an analysis and identification of sector initiatives to be implemented within a ten-year period and initiatives to identify and develop methodologies for cost-benefit analysis of the initiatives.

The ’National Energy Agreement 2008-2011’ describes a range of initiatives used to meet the reduction target set for gross energy consumption and to increase the share of renewable energy. For example, by establishing additional 400 MW offshore wind turbines by 2010 which will correspond to an increase in the capacity of wind power by 12 %, measures to reduce emissions from transport, agriculture and household heating have been initiated though sector initiatives. Specific programmes have also been initiated, such as the Oil Fuelled Boiler Scrapping Scheme that creates and economically supports private incentives to switch from oil‑fuelled boilers to more energy‑efficient forms of heating.

Several initiatives incorporated in the Government action plan “Green Growth” from 2009 are expected to further reduce the agricultural sector’s emission of greenhouse gasses overall by about 800,000 tones of CO₂ annually. Of this, about 400,000 tones are expected to be derived from the green, market-based re-structuring of nitrogen regulation.

Reference:

• Normander, B., Jensen, T.S., Henrichs, T.,, Sanderson, H., & Pedersen, A.B. (red.) 2009: Nature and Environment 2009 – Part A: Environmental development in Denmark and global challenges. National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), University of Aarhus. 94 p. – NERI scientific report series, no. 750 http://www.naturogmiljoe.dmu.dk/

• Normander, B., Henriksen, C.I., Jensen, T.S., Sanderson, H., Henrichs, T., Larsen, L.E. & Pedersen, A.B. (red.) 2009: Nature and Environment 2009 – Part B: Factsheets. National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), University of Aarhus. 170 p. –  NERI scientific report series, no. 751. (In Danish/ web publication) http://www.naturogmiljoe.dmu.dk/

• Energy Agency 2008: National Energy Agreement 2008 – 2011. (In Danish) http://www.ens.dk/graphics/Energipolitik/dansk_energipolitik/politiske_aftaler/Energiaftale%2021.feb08/energiaftale-21022008_final.pdf

• The Government 2007: A visionary Danish energy policy 2025. (in Danish) http://www.ens.dk/sw68153.asp

• Energy Agency 2010: The Danish energy projection until 2030. Ministry of Energy. (in Danish) http://www.ens.dk/Documents/Netboghandel%20-%20publikationer/2010/danmarks_energifremskrivning.pdf

• Nielsen, O-K., Winther, M., Mikkelsen, M.H., Gyldenkærne, S., Lyck, E., Plejdrup, M., Hoffmann, L., Thomsen, M., Fauser, P. 2009: Projection of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2007 to 2025 National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark. 211 pp. – NERI Technical Report no. 703. http://www.dmu.dk/Pub/FR703.

• Government 2008: Danish strategy for adaptation to a changing climate.  Danish Energy Agency. http://www.kemin.dk/EN-US/CLIMATEANDENERGYPOLICY/DKPOLICY/CLIMATEADAPTATIONSTRATEGY/Sider/climateadaptationstrategy.aspx