Key indicators 2004 – 11 <br>The environmental profile of the energy sector, illustrated by energy consumption and emissions relative to GDP

Key indicators 2004

11
The environmental profile of the energy sector, illustrated by energy consumption and emissions relative to GDP

Source: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency

This indicator illustrates developments in relation to the objective of accounting for environmental considerations in all sectors. The indictor shows the emissions of greenhouse gases and acidifying substances from the energy sector. The energy sector almost exclusively emits the greenhouse gas CO₂, and this accounts for more than 45 per cent of Denmark's total emissions of greenhouse gases. In total, energy consumption accounts for almost 80 per cent of Danish emissions of greenhouse gases. The sector is also behind the most significant emissions of acidifying substances, e.g. SO₂.

Economic growth without increasing energy consumption

Since 1990, adjusted gross energy consumption has grown only marginally. Economic growth has not caused a corresponding increase in energy consumption. This is due to a significant drop in energy intensity (defined as the gross energy consumption per DKK million GDP). The adjusted CO₂ emissions arising from energy use in 2003 have been established at 51.8 million tonnes, compared with 52.4 million tonnes in 2002, corresponding to a drop of 1.2 per cent. In relation to 1990, the reduction was 14.9 per cent. During the period 1990-2002, SO₂ emissions from the energy sector fell by 86 per cent, and in 2002, emissions of NO_x from the energy sector were 29 per cent lower than in 1990. Among other things, the reduction in CO₂ emissions during the 1990s was brought about by greater use of natural gas and renewable energy. More efficient use of combined heat and power has also reduced CO₂ emissions.

Reductions in Danish emissions of all greenhouse gases must continue so that the average level of emissions in the years 2008-2012 is 21 per cent lower than the annual emissions in 1990. Overall energy consumption has increased by 6.7 per cent since 1990, while emissions have increased by just less than 3 per cent. The energy produced is used in a more efficient manner. SO₂ emissions have been decoupled from economic growth, particularly due to flue gas cleaning and less sulphurous fuels. The target for reducing SO₂ emissions was reached in 1998.

11 The environmental profile of the energy sector, illustrated by energy consumption and emissions relative to GDP

11
The environmental profile of the energy sector, illustrated by energy consumption and emissions relative to GDP