Denmark and Climate Change

Denmark has, in recent years, been at the forefront of finding ways to combat climate change. As it states in the article, "80 percent of Denmark’s energy still comes from oil, coal and gas, the country intends to be using renewable energy for 33 percent of its energy needs by 2020." Denmark has prided itself on being the European country on the forefront of fighting global warming, with their Danish ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen taking charge and visiting several academic and international conferences this year in his "Danes in the Desert” series. Since Denmark is such a small country, often they find themselves "stepped on" by the US or their other larger European counterparts. However the ambassador to the US and the Denmark government plan on making their statement apparent. 

There are challenges however that may restrict their own ability to turn "green" such as the debt crisis and slow economy. This is something not only Denmark must contend with but also every other country pushing for a green initiative. Jensen spoke in Arizona this past week discussing the issue, stating that Denmark may not be able to change the whole world but they can serve as a beacon for others to follow. 

The climate issue is a hot topic on many government agendas. If countries such as Denmark choose to take tough stances on climate change would this spur changes in other countries such as the US or China? Or is Denmark just too small to make a real difference? Or finally, is the climate question nothing in comparison to the world's and Denmark's shaky economic status? The answer remains to be seen. 

http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2013/01/ambassador-of-denmark-visits-ua-talks-climate-change