Denmark's Fourth National Communication on Climate Change
Foreword
I am pleased to present Denmark's Fourth National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This Fourth National Communication contains information on the action taken by Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands on the commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The ultimate objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is to achieve ”stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.
The Third Assessment Report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that there is now stronger evidence for human influence on the global climate than previously assumed, and that most of the observed warming at the earth's surface over the last 50 years is likely to have been due to human activities. The February 2005 Exeter Stabilisation Conference concluded that there is strong evidence, that climate change due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases is already occurring and that it will result in changes in frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather and climate events.
The exact extent of future climate change is not known. However, the risk that climate change will affect humans and the environment in both the developed and the less developed parts of the world is of great concern to the Danish government. The Danish government will continue its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions both at national and at global level. This task involves fulfilling the commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and the agreement on joint fulfilment of the EU's target under the Protocol, and it involves exploring how to further the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change by developing a post 2012 agreement.
The climate challenge requires further targeted and long-term action both at international and national level. At the international level, negotiations on an agreement on further action after 2012 are a major global challenge. The way forward is to ensure broader participation, which can lead to significantly more ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. As decided by the European Council in March 2005, the industrialised countries should continue to lead the way, with ambitious emission reductions, and by granting assistance to developing countries through transfers of technology and capacity-building to promote sustainable development. There are many technological opportunities to promote economic development while at the same time contributing to reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases. In a Danish context renewable energy is a good example that could give inspiration to other countries.
Copenhagen, December 2005
Connie Hedegaard
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Version 1.0 December 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency