Denmark's Climate Policy Objectives and Achievements

Denmark's Climate Policy Objectives and Achievements

Preface

It is a pleasure for me to present this progress report on Denmark's climate policy objectives and achievements. The report has been prepared to be forwarded to the UN secretariat for the Climate Convention and to the European Commission. The report presents progress made in Denmark in the endeavours to fulfil its international climate commitments.

The report is an important signal to the international community that Denmark is complying with its international commitments on climate. With this report, Denmark is able to demonstrate progress as a result of considerable efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

During the period 2008-2012, Denmark must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21% compared to emissions in 1990. As early as in 1990 Denmark adopted its first action plan with reduction of CO₂ emissions as the objective. A new analysis of the efforts from 1990 up to 2001 demonstrates that the total reduction effects from domestic initiatives implemented can be estimated at approx. 21 million tonnes annually in 2008-2012.

New projections of emissions in Denmark in 2008-2012 demonstrate that the socalled climate deficit including the effect of measures adopted since 2003 as a follow up to the Government Climate Strategy, has been reduced to 8-13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents annually in the period of commitment. The deficit reduction is also due to, e.g. anticipated reductions in exports of electricity and anticipated effects of the allocation of funds to JI and CDM projects in 2003-2008 corresponding to approx. 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents annually in 2008-2012. The interval of 8-13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents annually in the commitment period reflects that the question of Denmark's base year has not yet been clarified.

In connection with the Government Climate Strategy, the deficit was previously set at 20-25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents annually in the period 2008-2012.

It is gratifying that Denmark's commitment is now assessed to be less than previously stated and that our efforts to fulfil our very considerable climate commitment are now paying off. It is, however, too early to rest on our laurels. The new climate deficit is still a great challenge and it will take considerable efforts to eliminate the deficit completely. With the new projections, we now have an updated basis for continued efforts.

The most important future measure will be allowance regulation with a reduction of allowances for businesses subject to allowance-regulation, as a follow-up to the Government Climate Strategy of 2003. This will happen in connection with the Allocation Plan for 2008-2012, which will be prepared in 2006. In connection with the preparation of this plan, the measures in all major sectors will also be reviewed.

Copenhagen, June 2005

Signature of Connie Hedegaard
Connie Hedegaard
Minister for the Environment