Danish Climate and Energy Policy

Rikke Thoning, Head of Department Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building

Major Developments in Danish Climate and Energy Policy since 2011

2

• A broad Energy Agreement in March 2012

• Danish Climate Policy Plan in August 2013

• An interim target of a 40% reduction by 2020 in all Danish GHG emissions to put Denmark on track for the 2050 target

• In parallel a technical report on possible mitigation actions

• Adoption of The Danish Climate Change Act in 2014

Danish Climate and Energy Targets

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Climate: •80-95% GHG reduction in 1990-2050 (EU and IPCC recommendations)•40% GHG reduction 1990-2020

Energy: •Fossil fuel phase-out / energy supply 100% based on RE by 2050 (including transport) •Energy sector 100% based on RE by 2035•Ambitious Energy Agreement up to 2020

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Gross Energy Consumption 1972-2010

-

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1 00072 75 78 '8

1

'84

'87

'90

'93

'96

'99

'02

'05

'08

Renewable energy

Coal

Natural gasOil

Source: Energy Statistics 2011

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Energy Consumption relative to GDP

Greenhouse Gas Emissions relative to GDP

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The Danish Climate Policy Plan

Figure: Changes in GHG emissions, 1990-2020 in relation to the 40% reduction target

Source: Danish Government Climate Policy Plan

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The Main Greenhouse Gas Emitting Sectors in Denmark

Figure. Historical and projected Danish GHG emissions for 1990 to 2020

Source: Danish Centre for Environment and Energy and the Danish Energy Agency

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Climate Policy Synergy

Source: Danish Government Climate Policy Plan

A Two - Tier Approach

1. Pushing for ambitious actions at the EU level

2. Taking action at the national level

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Danish Climate Change Act Strategic framework for reaching a low GHG

emission society in 2050

2030

New EU commitments

2020 National 40 pct. reduction target

Climate Policy Plan

• Sectoral integration

• National mitigation measures

• EU policies / new commitments in 2030

Climate Change Act

2015

• Report to Parliament once a year

• New National Climate targets every five years with a 10-year perspective

• Independent Climate Council

20502040

Recommandations from the Climate Council on current policy and scenarios towards 2050

Yearly Climate Policy Statement to Parliament•Status on emissions in sectors. •Policy planning to reach national/EU/international climate commitments. •Response to Climate Council recommendations

New national climate targets

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Recent developments in climate change mitigation actions

• Approx. 4 mill tons in 2013 forecasts to reach 2020 target

• Approx. 2 mill tons in 2014 forecasts to reach 2020 target.

Danish Finance Act – climate change mitigation initiatives2014:

• Biocovers• Reducing emissions from low- lying farmland• Helping companies reduce their energy consumption

2015:• Restoring nature• New national forest• Advising livestock farmers on climate-friendly production• Funding for acidification• Reduction of f-gasses• Electric busses• Other transport initiatives

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DK Energy Agreement, March 22 2012http://www.kebmin.dk/sites/kebmin.dk/files/climate-energy-and-building-policy/denmark/energy-agreements/FAKTA%20UK%201.pdf

Accelerating Green Energy Towards 2020http://www.ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/dokumenter/publikationer/downloads/accelerating_green_energy_towards_2020.pdf

The Danish Climate Policy Planhttp://www.ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/policy/danish-climate-energy-policy/danishclimatepolicyplan_uk.pdf

Our Future Energyhttp://www.ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/policy/danish-climate-energy-policy/our_future_energy.pdf

Energy Strategy 2050http://www.ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/dokumenter/publikationer/downloads/energy_strategy_2050.pdf