NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2010

Energy in the US Call for Private Investment in Clean Energy

Danish Heating and Cooling Technologies Breaking News from the Political Scene

State of the Energy: Midterm Elections and the Regulation of Green House Gases

Consumer Tendencies: Sustainable Food Gaining Acceptance Recent Maritime Policy Developments

Embassy of Denmark in Strategic Partnership with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Denmark Second Easiest Place to do Business in Europe 2011 Looking Back: Event Autumn/Winter 2010

Photo: The Washington Diplomat / Lawrence

Words from the Ambassador

Dear all,

The Christmas season is here, and with it, all the activities closing the fiscal year. At the American-Danish Business Council (ADBC), we would like to pause for a moment to send each of you a warm and special thank you for another fruitful year of collaboration.

Keeping with tradition, our two-day Creative Christmas party took place on December 7-8 and brought together some 800 decision-makers and opinion-leaders from various industries, as well as the US administration and other organizations.

Personally, I feel enriched by meeting so many of you in such a creative environment. Our conver-sations and the accompanying insight is what inspire me in my role as Ambassador to the United States.

There has been progress in 2010 regarding terms of economic recovery and, it is my impression (also based on your input) that business is picking up. If we can see any positive aspects of the cri-sis, it must be that the trade between the US and Denmark was not greatly affected compared to other countries. The reason for this is that both the US and Denmark supply one another with su-perior products and services that are knowledge intensive and technologically very advanced and within sectors that are less impacted by economic swings. This shows that our competences com-plement one another and that room for further cooperation exists. Not only in terms of trade but also within research & development and innovation, which again is a key driver for investments.

It is my job to support this development and I hope that the information gathered in these twenty-two pages will help this development and inspire you in advancing your individual business strate-gies. We always appreciate your suggestions as to how we can improve and continue to assist you.

Please keep in mind that no matter where you are, ADBC is always next door, looking forward to learning about your ideas and concerns.

The best wishes for a successful sprint towards the end of 2010 and the be-ginning for 2011!

Peter Taksoe-Jensen

Ambassador of Denmark to the United States

Foto: Lawrence Ruggeri, The Washington Diplomat

Energy in the US

Likewise, the reports of the death of

Clean Energy in the American market are

also greatly exaggerated. It is true that in

all probability little will be enacted by the

US Congress and that Cap and Trade in

its present form is dead. The closing of

the Chicago Climate Exchange is clear

evidence that a carbon market is not on

the agenda in the near term. It should

be noted that ClimateWire reported on

December 1st: “California, New Mexico

and 10 Northeastern states have ex-

pressed interest, together with three

Canadian provinces” in creating a carbon

exchange. ClimateWire went on to add:

“The states together account for one-

third of the $15.5 trillion economy of the

United States and Canada together.”

Moreover, other factors remain to drive

the market. When asked if he was dis-

couraged, Mike Eckhart, President of the

American Council on Renewable Energy,

remarked that quite the opposite. He

saw the states remaining drives as in the

eight years of the Bush Administration.

While Congress may experience gridlock

on energy issues, the Administration re-

mains committed to Green energy. The

executive order signed in October 2009

directs the government to use green so-

lutions wherever possible and to encour-

age a sustainable supply chain for prod-

ucts the government purchases. Since

the US Government is the size of many

nations, this buying power can be a game

changer.

Although wind may suffer unless subsi-

dies are extended, solar seems to be set

to have a banner year in 2011. Natural

gas may also be embraced by the Renew-

able Industry as the bridge to a Renew-

Headlines in Danish newspapers after the midterm election cried that the Green Energy movement in the US is dead. Mark Twain once wrote:

Illuminated Topic of

the Month: Energy

"The reports of my death

are greatly exaggerated"

able future. Greater use of natural gas will

reduce GHG (Green House Gas) emissions

and provide a cleaner alternative than coal.

It may also provide the bridge that renew-

able solutions need to become more eco-

nomically viable.

Experts have called 2010 the year of peak

oil. Thus, oil will become more and more

expensive to produce and more and more

difficult to produce in the same quantities

needed to replace fields that are nearing

depletion. Natural Gas prices have been

relatively low. However, the new methods

of producing gas from shale formations

could make gas prices more expensive as

well.

Furthermore, if natural gas begins to re-

place coal, this should also make gas more

expensive. (Some 60 GW of coal fired

power plants are due to be retired, re-

placed or retrofitted in 2012 because of

emission standards.) Currently, it would

appear that these plants would be replaced

with natural gas. Retrofitting seems to be

viewed as too expensive in most cases. It

should be noted that Senator Rockefeller

and Republicans in Congress are attempt-

ing to delay the Environmental Protection

Agency from implementing new standards

in response to the Supreme Court ruling

that CO2 is a health hazard.

In conclusion, the Midterm election has

made it more difficult to enact national

legislation and appropriate more funds to-

ward renewable energy solutions. But, the

US market in renewable energy made great

strides during the Bush years with little en-

couragement from the national govern-

ment and without the commitment from

the Administration it now enjoys with the

Obama White House.

For further information, please contact

Mary Paul Jespersen: marjes@um.dk

This is the

key mes-

sage of a new

report by the non-

profit organization Coalition for Green Capi-

tal in collaboration with the Center for

American Progress.

The main challenge for the clean energy in-

dustry is an unpredictable and short term tax

incentive structure, lack of low-cost capital

and insecurity regarding tax credits, loan

guaranties and regulation. Limiting these

challenges could make the industry move

forward creating jobs, securing clean energy

and creating economic growth.

The report advocates the financial policies

needed to increase investment in the clean

energy industry. An Energy Independence

Trust (EIT) would provide key financial incen-

tives for private investment in the clean en-

ergy industry. The potential EIT is a non-

profit, independent lending institution that

can borrow from the federal treasury to pro-

vide low-cost financing to private sector in-

vestments in clean energy. The EIT along

with the Clean Energy Deployment Agency

(CEDA) will be advanced as key financial

tools for advancing the renewable energy

industry. The Coalition for Green Capital pro-

poses selling off or privatizing the TVA

(Tennessee Valley Authority) to raise the

funds for these institutions – which would

then be self funding.

Encouraging private investment in the indus-

try will create jobs as well as secure energy

and economic growth.

For further information, please contact Nina Leth-

Espersen: ninlet@um.dk

Call for Private Investment in Clean Energy

After the recent midterm election, many within the Renewable Energy industry have recognized that a new approach is needed to move forward energy legislation.

Securing long-term

and low-cost finance

for the clean energy

industry could be in-

strumental to drive

innovation, job crea-

tion and economic

ADBC has been spreading the news about

this model to help strengthen demand for

green products.

District heating, of course, plays an impor-

tant role for Copenhagen being a sustain-

able, environmental and energy efficient

city. About 98% of the heat demand in Co-

penhagen is covered by district heating.

The Danish Board of District Heating (DBDH)

briefed audiences in Washington DC recently

about Danish heating and cooling technolo-

gies both within and outside Copenhagen.

In collaboration with the Environment and

Energy Study Institute, the Royal Danish Em-

bassy and the Nordic Council, Jes Brinch-

mann Christensen, Managing Director DBDH,

gave a presentation in Washington on the

21st of October. The Capitol Hill briefing was

about how Denmark’s energy consumption

has remained flat over the last 28 years

while the economy has grown 78%. This re-

markable accomplishment is partially due to

district heating.

In September 2010 a 30 person delegation

from the US visited the Danish Board of Dis-

trict Heating (DBDH) in Copenhagen to learn

about the success of Danish heating and

cooling technologies. The delegation

visited Danish companies

with expertise within

the field of district

heating and cool-

ing.

Danish Heating and Cooling Technologies

The Danish Story can serve as a model for the US in its quest for energy independence and transition away from high carbon fuels.

Denmark’s energy

consumption has re-

mained flat over the

last 28 years while the

economy has grown

78%

Energetic discussions - Jes Brinchmann Christensen (center), Managing Director, Danish Board of District Heating, answering questions, while Fridtjof Unander (left) and Mikael Möller listen.

The results of the midterm elections indicate

that the new Congress, which assembles in

January, will have a strengthened opposition

against regulation of GHGs, and will likely

attempt to block the regulation of GHGs by

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

through hearings, budget control and possi-

bly even legislation. According to a recent

article in Washington Post a large part of the

new members of Congress question the rela-

tionship between human activity and global

warming.

In fact, in the new Congress it is not unlikely

that a majority can be mustered in both

chambers for a bill that will postpone or stop

EPA-regulation. However, it obviously re-

mains to be seen whether the Republicans

and Democratic opponents to EPA-regulation

would actually be able to pass such a bill also

in the Senate where Democrats maintained

their majority.

President Obama has been very supportive

of the EPA mandate to regulate in the ab-

sence of a law to implement cap and trade.

However, in light of the strengthened oppo-

sition to it President Obama has after the

midterm elections encouraged Republicans

and Democrats to seek bipartisan coopera-

tion on EPA and has recommended that EPA

seeks guidance from Congress. Furthermore,

he has encouraged bipartisan cooperation

on (clean) energy issues as energy efficiency,

natural gas and nuclear energy as a possible

platform for cooperation in lack of consensus

on climate issues.

Where it seems almost certain that EPA-

regulation will come under pressure, the ad-

ministration will also seek bipartisan support

on some levels of EPA-regulation in order to

attain the goal of a 17 per cent reduction as

they pledged to in Copenhagen last Decem-

ber. The following months will show whether

EPA-regulation due to commence on January

2nd will withstand the pressure or may be

subject to adjustments.

For further information, please contact Kirstine Eibye Brand:

kirbra@um.dk

State of the Energy: Midterm Elections and the

Regulation of Green House Gases

With last year’s failure to pass a climate bill in the Senate, eyes are resting on EPA to regu-late and reduce emissions in order to reach the US COP 15 pledge to reduce its green house gas (GHG) emissions by 17 percent by 2020. However, the midterm elections have strength-ened the opposition in Congress against EPA-regulation of emission of GHGs and will put EPA under a lot of pressure not to move forward.

Politics

Upton was fiercely opposed to by the current

ranking member Joe Barton from Texas (who

apologized to BP during a hearing on the oil

spill). Barton was endorsed by several high

profile Tea Party supporters who painted Up-

ton as not conservative enough for their

taste. Upton may therefore have to prove his

conservative identity while also trying to

reach common ground.

EPA and the Clean Air Act: With 60GW of

coal fired power plants due to be retired in

2012, the EPA tailoring rules that go into ef-

fect on January 2, 2011 are under attack.

While the Rockefeller bill to postpone EPA

regulating Green House Gases for two years

has not reached a vote, it may be attacked in

the new Congress. A potential deal might be

reached to retrofit the coal plants making

them less dirty. Democrats will fight to retain

EPA’s right to regulate GHGs and the White

House would also have a right to exercise a

veto. Hence, there may be a need to find

common ground.

Energy Legislation: The Republicans and De-

mocrats in the Senate seem to be somewhat

willing to find common ground on legislation.

The Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)

could be revised to a Clean Energy Standard

to include nuclear and clean fossil fuels. Re-

publicans seem more ready to accept this

than an RES. There seems to be some willing-

ness to talk about extending subsidies for

ethanol as well for a year and implementing a

biofuels infrastructure. However, Republi-

cans are seemingly adamantly opposed to

technologies that require subsidies over the

long term to be viable.

For further information, please contact Mary Paul

Jespersen: marjes@um.dk

Breaking News from the Political Scene

In the House, Rep. Fred Upton (Republican from Michigan) recently won a heated contest for the chairmanship of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

To a greater extent, consumers want fresh

food and quality products, they want to sup-

port local and sustainable production, and

they want to know how the raw materials

have been processed.

About Farmers Markets and CSA

The Farmers Markets where farmers sell their

products at a certain place at a certain time

once a week is a great possibility for city-

residents to get easy access to fruits and

vegetables of the season and stay in touch

with rural life. The amount of Farmers Mar-

kets registered at the US Department of Agri-

culture has increased from 1.755 in 1994 to

6.132 this year, and the development contin-

ues. Last year’s total turnover for all regis-

tered markets was $170 billion, of which the

markets selling organic products had the

highest profits.

The Community Supported Agriculture is a

shared risk membership-marketing, where a

household signs a contract with a local

farmer committing for a whole season of

quality crops. The crops are delivered at the

door and paid ahead for the farmer to have a

solid income. In 2007 12.549 farms were part

of the program of which many are small

farmers.

Sustainability strategies for retail industry

The growing concepts are part of the slow

food and sustainable tendency, where con-

sumers want to eat local grown greens and

fresh products. And not only does the ten-

dency show in these concepts. It is now get-

ting a commercial dimension by gaining ac-

ceptance as a larger business concept in the

retail industry. The world’s largest supermar-

ket-company, Walmart, has released its new

sustainability strategy focusing on local prod-

ucts. They want to double their supply of lo-

cal foods by 2015 and will now start register-

ing the producers’ effectiveness and energy

efficiency in a sustainability index. Other

companies have followed Walmarts example

and among others, Safeway, Meijer, and Weis

Markets have published sustainability strate-

gies too.

Consumer Tendencies: Sustainable Food Gaining

Acceptance

For a longer period of time concepts as Farmers Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and urban agriculture have been known in USA, but during the last years the concepts have become more and more popular.

Although local produced food is still a smaller part of the big agricultural picture in

the United States, the interest is increasing and is expected to create a more cost

-effective production in the long run as a part of a bigger marketing system.

If the demand for local food increases, the future supply chain will look different than now.

For further information, please contact Katrine Schøler Kristensen: katkri@um.dk

Food & Agriculture

”Bridging” Danish and US Innovation in Healthcare

The rain poured down as the Minister of the Interior and Health, Mr. Haarder, biked over the Golden Gate Bridge Sunday. Ambassador Taksoe-Jensen and a crowd of Danish and American representatives from the health sector, researchers and representatives from IT companies bi-ked with the Minister. The bike ride marked the start of a five-day Health CareVan in Silicon Val-ley. The Minister’s tour of the US also included visits to universities and research hospitals.

In a world of rising health care cost, demographic challenges and an increased number of people

with chronic diseases, there is a need to focus on ways of optimizing an individual’s ‘health life

cycle’ through promoting healthy living, preventing chronic diseases and better the use of re-

sources in primary care, hospitals and medical clinics. Issues such as the reduction of costs re-

lated to rehabilitation through home care and improving diagnostic and rehab processes through

technology are also vital areas that should be addressed. These are some of the important issues

that are being discussed at the five-day Health CareVan

"I participated in the Health CareVan to help promote the knowledge we have in Denmark and

promote cooperation with American partners. Denmark is ahead when it comes to, for example,

telemedicine and electronic patient records. “ said Haarder.

Haarder also visited Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest hospital chains in the US, Google

Health Software, a telemedicine project lab at UC Berkeley and Harvard and Brown Universities.

Left Photo: Minister of the Interior and Health Mr. Haarder and Ambassador Taksoe-Jensen (in yellow jersey, front) are ready for departure, even if the weather is wet and the wind stirs. Photo: Innovation Center Denmark.

Right Photo: The Minister at the Garfield Center. Photo: Innovation Center Denmark.

.. the largest and most diverse biomedical

research laboratory in the Department of

Defense (DOD), aiming at promoting bio-

medical research that is responsive to DOD

and U.S. Army requirements and delivers life

saving products including knowledge, tech-

nology, and medical materiel that sustain

the combat effectiveness of the warfighter

and Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Organizations interested in initiating dia-

logue with WRAIR should contact the Em-

bassy of Denmark, facilitating site visits and

project development consultations within a

number of clinical disciplines, among them:

Biomedical Research and Development:

Antigen discovery and vaccine development

for militarily relevant pathogens

Drug discovery to address military needs Pilot production of quality biological that conform to Good Manufacturing Practices Testing of candidate vaccines, drugs, and devices in endemic areas to counter infectious diseases Development of devices for diagnosis an treatment Development of knowledge that enhances prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of relevant medical concerns Producing solutions that monitor, predict, and enhance human performance under field conditions Develop solutions for laser eye injury and delivery of dental health in the field Utilizing advanced technologies to produce solutions to medical concerns of military relevance

Embassy of Denmark in Strategic Partnership with

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

The Healthcare & Defense Department of the Embassy of Denmark has initiated collabora-tion with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR),..

On photo from left: Col. Gray Heppner, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Deputy Com-mander, recently was named a member of the esteemed member of the Council on Foreign Rela-tions. Per Lyse Rasmussen, Lieutenant Colonel, Assistant Defense, Military, Naval, and Air Attaché, Defense Industrial Cooperation, Embassy of Denmark Col. Aizen J Marrogi, MD, IRB Chair, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), who's department at Walter Reed is responsible for medical development. Joakim Steen Mikkelsen, Lifesciences & Healthcare Attaché, Embassy of Den-mark

For further information, please contact Lifesciences & Healthcare Attaché, Joakim Steen Mikkel-sen: joamik@um.dk

Health & Life Science

& Defense

Recent Maritime Policy Developments

The Danish embassy is monitoring developments within shipping policy continuously. Below is a sample of issues that have recently attracted attention:

New U.S. Coast Guard policy to ban repeat

offenders

On November 2, 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard

published a Notice of Policy, announcing the

release of a policy letter, which outlines the

procedures for denying entry to U.S. ports of

non-compliant foreign-flag vessels due to a

vessel’s history of operating in U.S. waters in a

substandard condition. The Policy Letter and

Federal Register Notice can be accessed at

www.regulations.gov, keyword: USCG-2010-

0947.

This new hardline policy comes just weeks

after it was announced that the U.S. Coast

Guard with the newly passed Authorization

Act has acquired a mandate to enforce Jones

Act legislation for foreign flagged vessels in

U.S. waters.

New leadership of the House Transportation

Committee

Even close followers of the maritime policy

cluster in Washington were surprised to learn

that the current Chairman of the House Infra-

structure and Transportation Commitee, Mr.

James Oberstar, did not obtain re-election to

serve in the new Congress.

Mr. Oberstar’s name has been close to syn-

onymous to the 100 pct. scanning legislation.

Other pieces of legislation not always wel-

comed by the international shipping industry

has passed his committee as well. The possi-

ble ramifications of the committee shifting to

Republican control remains to be seen but it

seems highly questionable whether Mr. Ober-

star’s latest attempt to introduce a new Ship-

ping Act will be continued.

International cargo security

Two bombs sourced to al-Qaeda in Yemen

were found on two US-bound cargo planes in

early November and the spotlight could easily

fall on shipping next, after the failed air cargo

terror attempt.

Renewed calls to shorten the timeline for US

rules on 100% container scanning at foreign

ports could be the outcome as expected by

the US National Industrial Transportation

League (US Shippers). However, World Ship-

ping Council chief executive Chris Koch has

stated to Lloyd’s List that he is not yet aware

of any “spill over” on maritime security.

He has said that Washington’s legislation for

100% scanning of maritime boxes would be

challenging: “All security procedures when

implemented have to face the reality of re-

sources and operating procedures. I am not

sure what will happen in 2014. But the opera-

tional realities and the difficulties which have

been identified up to this point are not going

to go away.”

For further information, please contact Maritime Advisor, Henrik Juhl Madsen: hemads@um.dk, +1 (202) 797 5351.

Martine

Companies looking for a trouble-free en-

vironment for their investment in Europe

should take a serious look at Denmark.

Denmark consistently ranks very high on

the World Bank’s “Doing Business” index,

that compares business regulation in 183

economies in the world. In 2011 Denmark

ranks number six globally and second in

Europe just as last year.

World Bank report builds on thorough

research

No less than 11 areas of business life are

covered in the World Bank report on the

easiness of doing business. These include

business start-up, construction permits,

property registration and trading across

borders.

This year Denmark was noted for having

eased business start-up by reducing the

minimum capital requirement for limited

liability companies, and for the comput-

erization of Denmark’s land registry,

which has cut the number of procedures

required to register property by half.

Study Denmark in the World Bank report

on Doing Business 2011

“I am happy to see that Denmark keeps

performing well to the benefit of any US

company setting up activities in Den-

mark”, says Denmark’s Ambassador to

the US Peter Taksøe- Jensen

Elisabeth Manford, Director North Amer-

ica, Invest in Denmark adds: “Today’s

ranking of Denmark by the

World Bank acknowledges the

plug’n’play business set-up we

have been building for years.”

Denmark Second Easiest Place to do Business in

Europe 2011

The World Bank ranks Denmark as the second easiest place in Europe to do business

in 2011. Denmark ranks number six in the world among 183 countries.

Denmark in Focus

Domestic and foreign companies bene-

fit from transparent and efficient public

government services, which allows

companies to quickly dig into one of

Europe’s most skilled talent pools. This

is why many US companies choose

Denmark, for example when establish-

ing R&D centers or headquarters in

Europe within CleanTech, Life Sci-

ence or ICT Industries.

The attractiveness of Denmark’s busi-

ness climate was very recently con-

firmed, when Denmark came out on top

of Forbes Magazine’s prestigious global

league table of “Best Countries for Busi-

ness” for the third year running.”

She continues:

Invest in Denmark provides your com-

pany with a tailor-made solution for

locating your business in Denmark. We

measure our success by how well we

contribute to yours. So if your company

is considering a business or R&D set-up,

or looking to access one of Europe's

most skilled talent pools, make us your

first stop.

Our specialized staff in Silicon Valley

and in New York has the corporate

background, industry insight and well-

connected networks to advise you on

every aspect of locating in Denmark.

Not just when you set up, but also as

your business grows. Our tailor-made

solutions include connecting companies

with key local contacts, arranging fact-

finding tours and providing comprehen-

sive benchmark analyses. We make

sense of local legislation and advan-

tages of locating in Denmark - all free

of charge and in guaranteed full confi-

dentiality.”

For further information, please contact

Elisabeth Manford: eliman@um.dk

FDA Seminar 2010 – Two Day Seminar on FDA Regulation and Management The Embassy of Denmark hosted November 9-10, 2010 a unique two day U.S. FDA Seminar in collaboration with senior U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER-FDA) officials and Beaufort LLC, a full-service U.S.-based contract research organization (CRO). More than 20 different life science organizations participated, and benefitted from the opportunity to interact with top regulatory officials – including the FDA liaison to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), offering an understanding of both the U.S. and European regulatory environment, – plus a very experienced team of regulatory, qual-ity, and clinical development CRO leaders to discuss, debate and dissect the latest drug regulatory, submission and market approval priorities, expectations and best practices. More than 30 individual and company specific meetings were conducted following the program. The seminar aimed at updating the industry on pre- and post-regulatory drug approval and commercialization strategies, among the themes presented: FDAs Drug Development in the 21st Century Review

The CDER Review Process Regulatory Strategy and Compliance FDA Review of INDs and NDAs Advisory Committees Specialty Reviews Quality Assurance & Systems Requirements Efficient Reviews through Pharmaceutical Quality Excellence Clinical Study and Protocol Design FDAs Role in Bioresearch Monitoring Program Clinical Study Management and Coordination Globalization – Cooperation FDA and the European Medicines Agency Global Drug Development from FDAs Perspective

The Embassy of Denmark hosted November 9-10, 2010 a unique two day U.S. FDA Seminar in collaboration with senior U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER-FDA) officials and Beaufort LLC, a full-service U.S.-based contract research organization (CRO).

FDA Seminar 2010: Held on November 9-10

Recent Events

Danish Maritime Network Meting: Held on 18 November in

Washington

The Danish Maritime Network under the ADBC met 18 November to discuss the prospects and

challenges of import and export pressures facing the maritime industry in the U.S. with a view

to the ambitious National Export Initiative, supply chain needs, and port hinterland connec-

tions. Guest speakers included Mr. David Long, Director, and Mr. Russell Adise, Maritime Trade

Specialist, Department of Commerce as well as Mr. Richard A Lidinsky, Chairman of the Federal

Maritime Commission.

Danish Minister for Development Cooperation in Washington

D.C. : November 2010

Ambassador to the United States, Peter Taksoe-Jensen, and Danish Minister for Development Coopera-tion here at the Ambassador’s resi-dence in Washington D.C.

Sustainability Pay$ - Houston, Texas:

Held on November 9th, 2010

The Danish speakers included: Jørgen

Eivind Olesen from Århus University and a

member of the Danish Climate Commis-

sion, Peter Rathje, CEO of Project Zero in

Sonderborg/Denmark; and Søren Herman-

sen from Samsø in Denmark.

Speakers at lunch included: John Ander-

sen, Director of the Shell Center for Sus-

tainability; Andrew Mangan, co-founder

and executive director of the United

States Business Council for Sustainable

Development; and the keynote speaker,

Admiral John Nathman, member of CNA’s

Military Advisory Board and a former Vice

Chief of Naval Operations.

The afternoon session was addressed by

Carsten Hein Westergaard Global Technol-

ogy Director of Vestas Technology R&D

Americas, Inc. in Houston and Dr. Stephan

van Sint Fiet with Evolva a Danish-Swiss

bio-tech company.

David Leebron, President of Rice Univer-

sity welcomed the audience and intro-

duced Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen

who gave the opening remarks. Ambassa-

dor Taksoe-Jensen spoke about the Danish

story – Denmark going from being 99 per-

cent dependent on foreign sources in the

1970s to being energy independent today

while maintaining healthy economic

growth. The Ambassador also underlined

the similarities between Denmark and

Houston – in terms of population and

maritime focus, oil production, etc.

ørgen Olesen then outlined the Climate

Commission report on how Denmark will

become a fossil fuel free society by 2050

at a relatively low cost. Peter Rathje pre-

sented the Project Zero road map of being

carbon neutral by 2029 with the support

A distinguished audience of more than 125 persons gathered at the Shell Sustainability

Center at Rice University in Houston on November 9th to hear speakers from Denmark

and John Nathman a US former Vice Chief of Naval Operations discuss the importance

of sustainability. The audience included a legend in Texas politics and the environmen-

tal community – Frances “Sissy” Farenthold. Ms. Farenthold was the first woman to

run for Texas Governor in her own right. Seth Schultz from the Clinton Foundation in

New York also attended.

Climate Commission , Mr. Jørgen Olesen

More than 125 persons gathered at Sustainability Pay$ in Houston

of the largest employer in the region, DanFoss. Søren

Hermansen talked about the decade long project (1997 –

2007) of taking Samsø to being self-sustaining and now

exporting energy. Andrew Mangan spoke of the impor-

tance of the Nordic pathfinders and the importance of

sustainability to business.

Admiral Nathman then delineated the strategic issues

involved in climate and energy and how these issues are

interconnected. He showed the three overlapping cir-

cles of National Security, Climate and Energy. It is im-

perative that the US military find alternatives to fossil

fuels. The Admiral showed a picture of a convoy of

trucks with supplies of diesel fuel and water travelling

through Pakistan to Afghanistan. The price per gallon in

real (continued)

terms for this fuel is several hundred times higher than

the price Americans pay at the pump – in addition to

lives that are potentially lost in defending the convoys.

He also spoke of the cost of a one meter (3 feet) sea rise

that is almost a certainty – and in fact could be as much

as two meters.

Both Vestas and Evolva spoke of the opportunities in

sustainability. Vestas was originally and agricultural im-

plements company that transformed (through entrepre-

neurial efforts) into the second largest wind turbine

manufacturer in the world. Evolva is a relatively new

company finding ways to produce energy more sustaina-

bly from natural sources.

The audience left energized by what is being done and

what is possible in future. They were also made aware

of the consequences of doing nothing. Perhaps, most

importantly for American Danish Business Council mem-

ber, Denmark and Danish companies demonstrated that

sustainability and healthy profits are compatible and

that companies that embrace sustainability can attain a

global competitive advantage and become market lead-

ers in their fields. Moreover, innovation quality and in-

genuity reside in Denmark – along with the long lauded

talent for design. In many sectors, Denmark and Danish

companies are pathfinders.

For further information, please contact Mary paul Jespersen: mar-

jes@um.dk

More than 125 persons gathered at Sustainability Pay$ in Houston

Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen

Creative Christmas: held on December 7-8, 2010

Creative Christmas: 50 Years of Iconic Danish Design

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Embassy, Creative Christmas held on December

7-8 2010 showcased fifty creative interpretations of Denmark’s most renowned icono-

graphic designs.

We send a special thank you to our sponsoring ADBC-members:

Haldor Topsoe, Inc. Novozymes North America Inc.

Scandinavian Airlines Arla Foods Vestas

Systematic, Inc. Terma North America, Inc.

ARLA FOODS

BEAUFORT ADVISORS

COLOPLAST CORPORATION

CONFEDERATION OF DANISH INDUSTRIES—DI

CONVATEC, INC.

COWI

DANFOSS, INC.

DANISH-AMERICAN BUSINESS FORUM

ECCO USA, INC.

EITZEN BULK USA, INC.

ENKOTEC COMPANY

ENXCO SERVICE CORPORATION

GREENLAND CONTRACTORS

HALDOR TOPSOE INC

HYDREMA

J. LAURITZEN USA, INC.

LUNDBECK

MAERSK INC.

MIDWEST TRADING

NORDEN TANKERS AND BULKERS USA—USEA

NEUROSEARCH

VELUX A/S

DANISH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, NY

DANISH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, N CA

DANISH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, S CA

DANISH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE , GEORGIA

DANISH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MIDWEST

AMCHAM DENMARK

OUR MEMBERS

Only through the close collaboration with our members can ADBC reach its objectives—to cultivate trade

and investment for Danish entities doing business in America and vice versa. We thank you for your sup-

port!

Internationalization Means Business – and Vice Versa The American-Danish Business Council promotes Danish companies in the US, and American companies in Denmark. It is

engaged in a range of activities aiming at obtaining an even more thriving American-Danish market place with increased

trade and investment. The Council has 59 Danish and American companies as members.

A number of sector-specific committees are being formed, including on Health & Life Science, Defense, Finance, Maritime,

Food & Agriculture and Energy. By using the Danish Embassy's contacts and access to American as well as to Danish Authori-

ties, the committees work to enhance business opportunities and to create network synergies and corporation.

To read about membership benefits, please visit our homepage, www.usadk.org, or contact Josefine Urup Wolff, joswol@um.dk