Climate Consortium Denmark
State of Green is a not-for-profit, public–private partnership promoting Danish cleantech solutions concerning climate change.
| Motto | Connect. Inspire. Share. Think Denmark |
|---|---|
| Established | 2008 |
| Founders | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities Confederation of Danish Industry Danish Agriculture & Food Council Danish Energy Wind Denmark |
| Type | not-for-profit public–private partnership |
| Focus | Climate change solutions |
| Location | |
Key people | State of Green's patron: H.R.H Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | Climate Consortium Denmark |
Organisational purpose and activities
State of Green focuses its efforts around four global challenges.
- Powering our future with sustainable energy
- Ensuring water security for a growing world
- Creating smart and liveable cities
- Moving towards a circular economy
House of Green
On September 5th, 2013, House of Green was inaugurated by H.R.H. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, the official patron of State of Green.[1] House of Green was a project intended to be a unique visitor and exhibition centre with meeting facilities and a showroom, where Danish businesses, industry organisations and public institutions could welcome foreign commercial and political decision-makers and introduce them to the Danish competencies within clean-tech.[2] The showroom is located opposite the City Hall Square in Industriens Hus in Copenhagen and has a size of 400 m2. 15.000 international visitors have visited the showroom since 2013.
On February 5th, 2019, House of Green was re-inaugurated by the Crown Prince after a comprehensive modernisation of the centre.[3]
The platform
In 2018, the organisation re-launched the website into a platform, where Danish companies, organizations and authorities withinin energy, water, cities and circular economy can present and market their green efforts. The aim of the platform was to create knowledge and relationships between stakeholders working for green and innovative solutions. The scope of the organisation was inherently international, focusing on the possibilities of using Danish cleantech solutions in foreign markets.
Historical context
Until the late 1970s, Denmark was almost exclusively dependent on fossil fuels. The 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis were wake-up calls for the country, realising the need for diversifying and securing renewable energy sources.
COP 15
Between 7th and December 18th, 2009, COP15 (also known as the Copenhagen Summit), was held in Copenhagen. State of Green, at the time known as Climate Consortium Denmark, was an integrated part of the official portfolio of activities before, during and after the COP15.
Energy Strategy 2050
In February 2011, Danish government announced its "Energy Strategy 2050" with the aim to be fully independent of fossil fuels by 2050, and a new government repeated the goal in 2015 despite public scepticism.[4]
Communicating the Danish example – Decoupling growth and energy consumption
Until the late 1970s Denmark was almost exclusively dependent on fossil fuels. The 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis were wake-up calls for the country. Working consistently with both the supply and demand structure of the energy-market, Denmark has managed to sustain consistent economic growth while keeping energy consumption nearly neutral. Since 1980 the Danish economy has grown by more than 75 percent in real terms while keeping energy consumption nearly constant and reducing CO2 emissions.[5]
This has come about through number of changes: government incentive schemes, including both sticks and carrots promoting renewable energy; cleantech innovations among entrepreneurs as well as established industries and public recognition of the importance of changing energy consumption patterns.
On the supply side energy sources have been heavily diversified and now include: wind power (20% of electricity as of 2009[6]); bio-mass including second generation bio-ethanol; gas from the North Sea and the Continent; the most energy efficient coal-fuelled combined heating power plants in the world;[7] and ordinary gasoline fuel mainly used in transportation.
On the demand side the Danish society has undergone a fundamental change in its consumption patterns driven by an innovative industrial side, massive investments in cleantech and pricing incentives on energy. The efforts include vast reductions of energy waste in private housing and business facilities not least through efficient lighting and better building insulation, and an improving energy efficiency of industry and the agricultural sector.
References
- Berlingske, 10.09.2013, 'Kronprinsen åbnede grønt udstillingscenter', https://www.berlingske.dk/virksomheder/kronprinsen-aabnede-groent-udstillingscenter
- CSR.dk, 07.11.2019 'Industriens Fond provides apr. DKK 15M for interactive presentation of green Danish technologies': https://csr.dk/industriens-fond-giver-godt-15-millioner-kr-til-interaktiv-pr%C3%A6sentation-af-gr%C3%B8nne-danske-teknologier
- Kongehuset.dk, 05.02.2019, 'Genåbning af House of Green', http://kongehuset.dk/foto-video/genaabning-af-house-of-green
- Wikipedia, 'Energy in Denmark', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Denmark
- The Danish Energy Authorities: ‘The Danish Example’ http://en.cop15.dk/files/images/Articles/Danish-example/danske%20eksempel%20engelsk.pdf
- The Danish Grid: ‘The Danish Wind Case’ http://www.energinet.dk/en/menu/Climate+and+the+environment/Climate/The+Danish+wind+case/The+Danish+wind+case.htm%5B%5D
- EnergyMap, ‘Advedøre Power Plant’ http://www.energymap.dk/Profiles/DONG-Energy/Cases/Avedøre-Power-Plant
External links
- Official website
- United Nations Environmental Programme's Climate Neutral initiative