Should Denmark be a pioneer country and leading  nation in the green transition? This was one of the questions posed in a survey recently conducted by the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utility and Climate. 67 per cent of the respondents from the survey answered yes to this question, even though it might entail economic costs.

The survey also reveals that a majority believe Denmark should be a leading developer of green solutions, with 81 per cent supporting this view. Only three percent of respondents disagreed with this sentiment. This is in accordance with the 50 percent of Danes who think that Denmark should invest more in the green transition than the EU member state average.

‘’I am thrilled that Danes strongly support a green transition. That is why I am also looking forward to the citizen consultation the government launched last Thursday. With the citizen consultation, we aim to give Danes an opportunity to participate in the development of our future climate policies and the new climate law’’, said Lars Chr. Lilleholt, the Danish Minister for Energy, Utility and Climate.

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Danes want to contribute to climate action

The survey reveals that there is general agreement that the individual Danish citizen should contribute to solving climate issues, via actions such as altering their lifestyles, although Danes also share the opinion that the primary responsibility for reducing CO2 emissions should rest with the state. 63 per cent of those surveyed were in agreement with the idea that Danes should significantly change their way of living to reduce CO2 emissions.

‘There is strong engagement among the Danes to do something for the climate and they want to contribute. The fact that the Danes are so committed to find solutions to climate change emphasises the need to involve them in the development of the new climate law’’, said Lars Chr. Lilleholt.

Two days ago, the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utility and Climate initiated a large-scale public consultation. Titled ‘Give the climate permission’ (Giv klimaet lov in Danish), Danes can contribute with ideas, experiences and input to how the new Danish climate law should be designed. At first, Danes have the opportunity to deliver input at two public meetings that will be conducted in April and on a website (www.givklimaetlov.dk ). All contributions received will be gathered and summarised at a large public meeting to be held in September.

The citizen consultation is taking place due to the fact that the Danish government intends to table a new climate law at the next parliamentary session and the idea is that ordinary Danes will help to design it.

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The entire survey can be accessed here (in Danish)

Facts about the initiative:

- Anyone can contribute with input to the new climate law on www.givklimaetlov.dk or at two public meetings in April

- All contributions will be tabled in a report that will form the backbone of the new climate law, which is due to be presented at the next parliamentary session

- Anyone can attend the public consultations

- 67 percent state that they agree or highly agree that Denmark should be a pioneer country and frontrunner in the green transition, even though it might entail economic costs.

- 81 percent agree or highly agree that Denmark ought to be one of the world’s leading developers of green solutions – only three percent disagreed.

- 63 percent of those surveyed agree or highly agree that the Danes need to change their lifestyle significantly in order to reduce CO2 emissions.

- 31 percent are prepared to use more of their private income to tackle climate challenges. 30 per cent are not willing to do so.

- 40 percent of the Danes see no problem with wind turbines or biogas plants that are located in close proximity to their homes, while 34 per cent would not want near wind turbines or biogas plants located near their homes.

The survey was conducted by Norstat on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utility and Climate. 1007 Danes answered the survey between March 28 and March 31.

Source: The Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate

Photo credit: Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash