“Climate change is real and showing effects around the World” says Martin Lidegaard. “Within a few decades, these effects will seriously degrade the living conditions of millions of people around the globe. We have a duty to take action. As a wealthy country, Denmark has the capability to take the lead and the climate policy plan I am proposing is showing the way.”

The government’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with 40% by the year 2020, compared to 1990 levels. A major step towards reaching that goal was accomplished in March 2012, with the political agreement on energy policy. The remaining reductions to achieve the goal will come primarily from the transportation, agriculture and construction sectors, and from waste management. In order to reach the government’s goal, we must eliminate the equivalent of approximately four million tonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2020.

Reaching the goal in 2020 also depends on factors such as the economy as we progress toward 2020, as well as on EU climate policy. The government will continue to work proactively to ensure that ambitious climate and energy policies are pursued by the EU. The EU policies will contribute significantly in order to achieve the national objectives. The government will engage in a dialogue with parliament, business society and civil society to discuss what kind of national policy initiatives to be decided on to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“It is important that Danes can see themselves as part of this important process we are engaging in,” says Martin Lidegaard. “So we must take it one step at a time. It’s imperative that the government’s ambitious climate policy is working hand-in-hand with efforts to stimulate growth and competitiveness and to improve public finances. The climate challenge will be met as cost-effectively as possible, without imposing any new general business taxes.”

The government will introduce a climate change bill during the upcoming session of parliament. The purpose of this upcoming bill is to ensure progress and transparency in the climate policy development. The bill will include requirements for an annual climate policy progress report to show whether Denmark is on track to meet the goal of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020.

As part of its work on the climate policy plan, an inter-ministerial working group has developed a catalogue of about 80 possible climate policy initiatives to address climate change. These policy proposals, along with the proposed legislation, will be the government’s main instruments in the coming years in order to continuously monitor and adjust its climate policy.

“Some of these initiatives will have socio-economic benefits, while others will be very expensive for society,” says Martin Lidegaard. “Each time the government has to decide on agricultural, transport or environmental policies the climate change effects will be taken into consideration. This will ensure a responsible and economically sound climate policy.”