The Ministry of
Climate and Energy 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 and
Energy’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.
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.
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.
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 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.