After the Paris Agreement in December 2015, sustainable life and
green energy should be emphasized and improved in many ways in many countries
who signed the agreement. Having lived in Denmark for a couple of years
and working within sustainable energy, I have found two articles that highlight
the sustainable life and energy in Denmark that can be a great example to be
implemented in other countries.
In the article “Denmark’s Collaborative Culture Makes it
a Breeding Ground for Sustainability” in
The Guardian, Oliver Bach says that what distinguishes Denmark from almost all its
European peers is the proactive approach of successive governments to
sustainability issues. The country's environmentalists point out that Denmark was the
first in the continent to establish an official environment ministry (back in
1971, almost three decades before the UK). She also points out that in Denmark
there are tax incentives for low-carbon technologies and renewable energy
generation. All in all, she concludes that proactive government, social
responsibility and a willingness to collaborate have put Denmark ahead on
sustainability.
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Photo credit: disabroad.org
Recycling culture is also very popular in Denmark, from recycling
waste, clothes, until home furniture. In the article, "Recycling is a Hit with the Business
Community", Rikke Brøndum says that in Denmark, large corporations
have put a spotlight on the so-called circular economy which is all about
reusing waste or selling it on. Just as an example, Carlsberg, the Danish beer
company, has decided to develop a 100% degradable fibre bottle which can be
reused as cardboard and which will not harm the environment. Rikke continued
saying that packaging accounts for almost 50% of the beer giant's costs, so if
it wants to be able to continue to offer beer at a reasonable price around the
world, the company has to keep the costs down.
Based on my review of these two
articles and my experience living in Denmark and working within a sustainable
energy, there are 3 reasons why Denmark is leading among other countries in
terms of sustainable:
1. Renewable energy at its best
As stated earlier, there
are tax incentives for low-carbon technologies and renewable energy generation.
Furthermore, wind energy is very popular as in 2015, 42.1 percent of the country's energy
needs being met by wind power according to the state-owned energy company
Energinet as posted by Treehugger.
2. Recycling
culture
The recycling
habit of the citizens, by buying, using, selling, and giving secondhand items
is also followed by the large corporations as an effective business and or CSR
strategy.
3. Proactive
approach of successive governments to sustainability issues
The
Danish governments also support the green transportation solution, for example
by providing excellent bike lanes in most cities. Even Copenhagen
municipality has a goal to become the world’s best city for cycling.
Sustainable
energy and environment will be more massive and be considered as lifestyle soon
or later. Thus, learning from the pioneer in these areas can be beneficial for
many countries following up the Paris Agreement.
Ethenia Novianty Windaningrum is a Marketing & Communications professional who lives in Denmark after her graduating from her Master's study from Aarhus University She is interested in sustainable, digital, and marketing and can be reached out on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ethenia.
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