H.M. the Queen of Denmark and 31 Danish companies visited Argentina and Chile from 18-22 March with the intention to strengthening the relationship between stakeholders across the two nations. In recent years, the Argentine government has implemented intensive reforms to ensure economic advancement in the country. Preferably, however, the progress is accompanied by an increasingly sustainable and green development especially within water management and energy supply. This was a central element in the state visit.

Two cooperation agreements signed

The ambitions presented by the Argentine government and the expertise and knowledge presented by the business delegation accompanying H.M. the Queen resulted in the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Danish and Argentine officials. The MoUs emphasize the two governments’ mutual understanding and willingness to promote private and public partnerships between Argentina and Denmark, focusing on two areas where Argentina is challenged to meet their ambitious goals: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and renewable energy.

IWRM is an area where Danish know-how and technology is in high demand because of Denmark’s proven ability to keep national water waste very low (approx. 7.8 per cent). Denmark and Argentina will collaborate to improve the current situation and help Argentina reach the goals stated in its national water plan (Plan Nacional de Agua).

Furthermore, Argentina has started to implement its plan to increase the amount of renewable energy in the energy mix with the hope to reach a level of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2025, up from 2 per cent in 2017. This points to the necessity of massive expansions in sustainable energy sources. The Argentine-Danish collaboration will focus on the integration of wind energy in the Argentine energy system, an area where Danish companies have a lot of international experience.

“I am thrilled to see that Argentina will be able to draw on the experiences and the know-how Danish authorities and corporations within sustainable energy solutions. At the same time, I hope that the collaboration will contribute to exports and create jobs in Denmark as well as in Argentina,” said Lars Chr. Lilleholt, Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate.

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Helping Chile manage urbanisation and infrastructural challenges

With one of the highest urbanisation rates in the world Chile is facing urgent challenges to develop the infrastructure in its major cities in order to meet the expectations of modern life. Following the state visit in Argentina, State of Green accompanied the Danish delegation to Chile with the purpose to discuss sustainable solutions in urban planning. In particular, water management will be decisive in the sustainable development of the Chilean cities.

Increased energy efficiency in buildings in urban areas will also play a major role in Chile. Almost 40 per cent of CO₂ emission globally comes from buildings, which emphasise the need to consider sustainable solutions in future urban development. Danish companies provided their expertise and presented solutions to city authorities, developers and international finance institutions with the purpose of helping Chile overcome the infrastructural challenges they are facing.

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Chile is set to host the next United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP25) in December 2019 and State of Green, as the official Danish COP delegation representative, met with the Chilean organisers to gain insights about Chile’s organisational objectives ahead of the conference. Meeting the organisers revealed a large Chilean interest in creating a platform that will give the private sector an opportunity to gain influence at COP25. The private sector contributes with countless sustainable solutions but it is also responsible for a large part of global CO₂ emissions so the Chilean organisers find it natural  to include the private sector in the COP25 activities.

Read more about Danish urban solutions in Argentina and Chile in the report prepared in partnership with Quercus Group and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.