The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building is made up of the Department, GEUS, DMI, the Danish Energy Agency, the Energy Board of Appeals, the Danish Energy Savings Trust, Energinet.dk and the North Sea Partner.
The Department
The Department functions as the Minister for Climate, Energy and Building’s consultant and carries out the political work of the Ministry using input from ministerial institutions – in particular the Danish Energy Agency. The Department is responsible primarily for coordination and development of domestic climate and energy policy, negotiation and implementation of international agreements and EU regulations, and inter-ministerial coordination. The Department consults with ministerial institutions when in need of expert advice.
Ministerial institutions
The Danish Energy Agency is responsible for the entire spectrum of responsibilities related to production, supply, transport and consumption of energy, including energy efficiency and savings efforts, as well as domestic CO2 targets and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agency is also responsible for carrying out national climate adjustment strategies.
A number of institutions are affiliated with the Energy Agency, including the Danish Energy Savings Trust, the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP) and the Danish Portal for Adaptation to Climate Change. Members of the Energy Agency administration also sit on the secretariat of the Danish Commission on Climate Change Policy.
The Danish Energy Savings Trust seeks to reduce the amount of electricity consumed by Danish households and public institutions and businesses by informing energy consumers. The Trust also seeks to encourage the market to produce new, energy efficient products and services, and it is involved in public tenders.
Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP) supports development and demonstration of new energy technologies. The programme was established by an act of Parliament in 2008 and is led by an independent board of directors nominated by the Minister for Climate and Energy. Administration of the EUDP is carried out by the Energy Agency.
Danish Commission on Climate Change Policy
In 2008, the Government set up a climate change commission made up of 10 experts specialising in climate, transport, agriculture and economics. The commission makes recommendations to the Government about how it can attain its goal of making Denmark independent of fossil fuels. The commission will present its report in September 2010.
The Danish Building and Property Agency is a new agency which is made from a fusion of the former Palaces and Properties Agency and parts of the former Danish University and Property Agency. The tasks of the Danish Building and Property Agency are to handle the different phases of buildings: buying, selling, renting, building, planning, development, refurbishment and maintenance. Furthermore, the Danish Building and Property Agency will handle the law on public building. The Danish Building and Property Agency carries out initiatives on how to obtain energy savings and initiate energy effective behaviour in the governmental institutions.
GEUS – The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland is an independent Danish research and consultancy agency operating in the areas of environmental geology, water resources, energy and mineral resources. GEUS collects and stores data and is responsible for research, consultancy and communication related to the exploitation and protection of the natural geological resources of Denmark, Greenland and the Faeroe Islands.
DMI – The Danish Meteorological Institute is the nation's source for meteorological data. In addition to forecasts and warnings, its responsibilities include continual monitoring of the weather, climate and related environmental conditions in the atmosphere and seas surrounding Danish territory. DMI carries out Denmark's international meteorological obligations and is the point of contact for exchanging information internationally.
The Danish Portal for Adaptation to Climate
Change is an Energy Authority organisation that is
responsible for operation of climate change website
klimatilpasning.dk and implements initiatives agreed on
in the Coordination Forum for Climate Adaptation.
The North Sea Partner is a state-run organisation that administers the North Sea Foundation. The foundation is Denmark's representative during licensing rounds for new oil exploration. The North Sea Partner draws on the Energy Authority's expertise in the gas and oil area, as well as administrative issues. The North Sea Partner also makes use of information from GEUS.
The Energy Board of Appeals receives complaints over official decisions. The board hears appeals in cases relating to heating, electricity supply and electricity generation subsidies, among other issues.
Energinet.dk is an independent, state-owned company that owns Denmark's electrical and natural gas grid. It also maintains a supply of natural gas. Energinet.dk's primary responsibility is to control and maintain the national electrical transmission grid and the national gas distribution grid.