Scorecard summary:
Fulfilment of Rio Conference Commitment - Yellow
Current Government Position on Climate Change - Green
Per Capita CO2 Emissions - Yellow (10.44 metric tons per person in 1992)
National CO2 Emissions - Green (53 million metric tons in 1992)
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
Politically committed, has a strong focus on
energy
efficiency, has achieved a lot in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but
could
do even better.
NATIONAL CLIMATE PROTECTION GOAL:
In 1990 the government
launched
(and the Parliament subsequently adopted) "Energy 2000", an action plan
introducing the
target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20 percent in 2005 compared to 1988
levels.
Later, as part of the overall EU commitment to stablise CO2 emissions at 1990
levels by 2000, Denmark committed itself to achieving a 5 percent
reduction in
CO2 emissions by 2000. In the most recent follow-up plan, "Energy 21"
from April
1996, the government reaffirmed its commitment to the 20 percent target
in 2005
and announced a 50 percent reduction aim for 2030. The proviso on this
"aim",
however, is that "international efforts in both technological development and
design of market conditions and mechanisms support this Danish effort".
SPECIFIC FEATURES:
Danish energy consumption is largely
dependent on fossil
fuels. There is no potential for hydropower and no nuclear energy. Danish
primary energy consumption increased rapidly during the 1960s but essentially
stabilised between 1972-1992, while GDP increased by 60 percent. This is
mainly
due to the substitution of fuels. Initially oil was replaced by coal, but
recently coal has been replaced by natural gas from domestic sources in the
North Sea. In 1990, the share of energy sources to overall primary energy
supply was 41 percent coal, 41 percent oil products, 11 percent natural
gas and
7 percent renewable. Since 1990, the share of natural gas has increased
to 16
percent while the share of coal has decreased to 32 percent. Latest
figures show
that CO2 emissions remain unchanged in spite of increased energy consumption.
This is due to fuel switching and the expanded use of combined heat and
power.
NEGATIVE FEATURES:
Denmark has adjusted its emission figures to
account for
energy import/export and climate variations. None of these adjustments have
been endorsed internationally. This approach was adopted because of the
considerable trade in electricity between Denmark and Norway and Sweden - in
1990 the net (hydropower produced) electricity import was 23 percent of the
nation's overall consumption. The import/export variations have so far
depended
upon water availability in hydropower plants in Norway and Sweden. This
is why
Denmark in recent years has exported fossil fuel-based electricity. This
problem might continue in the future as Sweden closes down nuclear power
stations.
Danish exploration of oil and natural gas is planned to continue in spite
of the political recognition of fossil fuels being the fuels of the past.
Despite an energy plan that implies ending the use of coal, no real
agreement or timetable has been presented for a coal phase-out.
Any achievement in the electricity sector is outweighed by increased
emissions from the transport sector where the government continues to
encourage
increased transport in general and road transport in particular. Carbon
dioxide
emissions from road transport account for 90 percent of the nation's overall
emissions. Petrol prices are relatively low compared to other European
countries. Almost no effort is under way to change this situation.
POSITIVE FEATURES:
Due to strong public and political resistance,
nuclear energy
has never been - and is never expected to be - introduced in Denmark. In
1995,
renewable energy represented 7.8 percent of primary energy consumption.
It is
planned to steadily increase to 35 percent in 2030. The government has a
strong
commitment to combating climate change and the 20 percent reduction
target in
2005 continues to enjoy wide political support in the Parliament. With
transport as the exeption, considerable efforts have been made,
especially to
improve efficiency in the electricity sector. A CO2 tax has been in
place since
1993, but with flaws such as exemptions for businesses with high energy
consumption.
Sources: Climate Protection in Denmark, National Report to the FCCC,
1994; Energy 21, the Danish Government's Action Plan for Energy, 1996.