Green is Denmark and Denmark is Green

Journalist delegation posing with windmills in Thisted. Photo by Peter Mørk, Nordjyske Medier

Denmark is one country that has set the pace for a green economy and has accordingly branded herself as such: “State of Green, Join the Future. Think Denmark.” This branding is not only unique, but timely as it is connected to the current global agenda for green economies. It projects Danish strongholds across the green landscape of energy, climate, water and other natural resources, and the environment. This branding is not a mere cosmetic display; but the product of coming to terms with existing problems on the ground, brainstorming on what do,  identifying the options, forging a national consensus, committing resources for implementation and of course with the backing of a strong political will. 

The country does not want to keep its success story to itself.  Most importantly, it is reaching out to potential partners particularly in developing countries in pursuance of green growth. Therefore, the country has packaged an introductory tour on the green growth concept dubbed “State of Green Tour” for high level commercial and political decision makers as well as the media.

A group of African journalists from Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, was a recent beneficiary of the tour. The delegation’s week-long visit to Denmark was part of a pilot project initiated by International Media Support (IMS) an international NGO that works to support a range of media development in four continents including Africa. The tour focused on the three sub-themes to green growth namely renewable energy, water resources management and agric-business. It was funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign.

The Media Green Study Tour

The goal of the media study tour was to increase knowledge and exchange views on green growth opportunities and approaches to development challenges in Africa. This was significant for members of the delegation as they came from countries that are currently facing challenges relating to ensuring sustainable energy, water resources management, sustainable and productive agric-business and creating viable job opportunities. On the other hand, Denmark has a proven track record as well as comparative advantages in providing appropriate high tech green growth solutions to development challenges as those facing our countries. The tour included discussions with leading researchers, guided tours, exchanges of experience with Danish journalists, on-site visits to projects and companies working with green growth solutions, as well as presentations and discussions on experiences in municipalities with regard to popular participation in relation to renewable energy and water management. They also interacted with national politicians and local politicians with a special interest in green growth.

Memorable Lessons and Encounters

Once upon a time in the early 1970s, Denmark had issues including: oil crisis caused by the Arab oil embargo as the country was 99 % dependent on imported energy mainly oil from the Middle East, pollution caused by fossil fuels and growing public concerns about the pollution. The country decided to take the bull by the horns – she developed and implemented an energy policy that prioritised energy savings, diversified energy supply to include renewable sources and introduced an ambitious use of green taxes among other things. 

The reward is an energy consumption that is one of the lowest in the world and Denmark is now counted among the most energy efficient countries worldwide.  The Danes are taking advantage of all kinds of renewable energy sources – wind, solar, waste and now waves.  Those spearheading the green agenda – government, industry, businesses and organisations – are quick to point out that these are not cheap options, but nevertheless they come with long term rewards. 

For instance, Muncipal Authorities such as Aarhus Municipality, institutions like the Nordic Centre for Renewable Energy, which keeps the Renewable Energy Conservation Park and even individuals such as farmer Erik Broholm Andersen, are not just generating energy for their own use, but are actually selling to the national grid. Theirs is a truly domesticated economy.

This progressive green growth trend in Denmark has been facilitated by a general consensus to pursue a national agenda for green growth, which every ruling political party must adhere to and cannot alter.  The country’s Vision 2020 targets include 35% renewable energy in final energy consumption, 50% of electricity power to be supplied from wind power, 7.5% reduction in gross energy consumption and 34% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

What is even more interesting is that there exists in Denmark an independent Think Tank that is measuring how green the country’s green is greening.  Known as CONCITO it provides analytical based opinions on major green policies and actions not just in Denmark but also in the international community.  For instance, the association is of the view that a green transition where a society now emits less green house gases and uses fewer resources can only be developed with a change of positions of power. 

CONCITO has identified barriers to this kind of transition.  They barriers include the need for long term incentives for populations to change behavior which is crucial for green transitions, the likelihood of governments setting different and unpopular agendas, political agendas are set by major campaigners and lobbyists, financial sectors could create incentives but do not, researchers and the press follow politicians and lobby organizations, and it is difficult to see where the change will come from. 

While this independent Think Tank is busy doing its analysis, the country is also busy pushing its agenda to create more jobs in the ’green’ energy sector exporting green solutions to developing countries in particular.  Developing countries can either begin their own process of green transition by making a commitment to address the issues on the ground in the green manner or wait to be approached.

In the time being, Denmark is making strides in her green walk.  For example, the “State of Green” establishment is a public private partnership founded by the Danish Government, Confederation of Danish Industry, Danish Energy Association, Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Danish Wind Industry Association with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark as its patron. Its main agenda is to strengthen the process of green transitioning, publicise success stories and create viable partnerships though its targeted exhibitions, events and communication materials.

The country is also spearheading the Global Green Growth Forum also know as 3GF. It is a partnership approach that in the short term seeks to explore, promote and demonstrate how better collaboration among leading businesses, investors, think-tanks, experts, international organisations and governments can effectively realise the potential for long-term inclusive growth. 

As part of its efforts to promote and support inclusive and green growth in Africa, the Danish government has lunched “Opportunity Africa,” which is a new initiative comprising foreign policy, development cooperation and trade and investments. The initiative, which is under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will eventually move away from providing aid to creating trade or market based partnerships that will be tailored to enhance commercial “win-win” cooperation between Danish and African private sector partners.  In simple language, Denmark will soon or later stop giving aid to African countries. 

The Green Growth Concept

Green growth is more of an approach that nurtures economic growth and development in ways that ensure that the natural resource base continue to provide the environmental services on which our well-being depends. This requires that it must catalyse investment and innovation which will support sustained growth and create new economic opportunities.

International organisations including the Organisations for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and World Bank agree that green growth provides a practical and flexible course for achieving concrete, measurable progress across a country’s economic and environmental pillars. This is in addition to taking full account of the social consequences of greening the growth dynamic of economies.

The focus of green growth strategies is to ensure that natural assets can deliver their full economic potential on a sustainable basis. That potential includes the provision of critical life support services – clean air and water, and the resilient biodiversity needed to support food production and human health. Natural assets are not in the long run substitutable and green growth policies take account of that.