High climate ambitions in EU’s interest

In addition to Denmark, only the British government has announced a similar position. Germany and France are debating whether to do so.

With its decision to support deeper reductions, the Government has broken with the Union’s position that the target would only be raised to 30% if other countries, primarily those in the developed world, made a similar pledge.

Minister for Climate and Energy Lykke Friis said:
“It is in the EU’s own interest to raise its ambitions on the climate front. Much of the reason has to do with climate considerations and our ability to reach the long-term goals we’ve set, of course. But this is also a matter of securing the future of our energy supply, as well as putting the EU in a favourable position in the global race to go green. The EU is in clear danger of being overtaken by the US and China if we don’t make a major effort to convert to green energy technologies.”

“Denmark especially will benefit from an increased demand for green technology in the EU. Denmark is a leading exporter of green technology and the EU is our most important market. But of course achieving our goals will be done in a manner that doesn’t harm competitiveness or employment.”

“We are the second country in the EU to make the argument that the Union should raise its emissions targets, and by doing so we hope to eliminate any misunderstandings that Denmark lacks ambition when it comes to climate.”

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, speaking at the Green Growth Economies conference on Tuesday, said:

“The Government believes that the time has come to raise the EU’s green targets higher. The EU should unilaterally set a goal of reducing its CO2 emissions 30% below 1990 levels by 2020.”