Denmark Increases Carbon Emission Reduction Targets

In an attempt to reduce reliance on gas and oil the Danish government has recently announced the "broadest, greenest, and most long-term energy agreement" in its history by increasing its green energy and carbon reduction targets for 2020.

By 2020 Denmark now wishes to cut its greenhouse emissions by 34% in comparison to its 1990 levels, whilst also reducing its energy consumption by more than 12% compared to 2006. They also plan to develop renewable heat technology, smart girds, and biogas amongst others, in order to supply 35% of its total energy from renewable sources. The plan hopes for 50% of electricity to be supplied from wind farms.

All efforts are will help lead to the overall target of 100% of energy from renewable sources by 2050.

Martin Lidegaard, the Danish minister for climate, energy, and building, said that, "Denmark will once again be the global leader in the transition to green energy. This will prepare us for a future with increasing prices for oil and coal. Moreover, it will create some of the jobs that we need so desperately, now and in the coming years."

Lidegaard also hopes that the new targets will mean much more investment in renewable energy sources that will help to protect the country from the volatile prices of fossil fuels, and therefore prevent large consumer energy bills.

Commitments such as this could help boost the efforts within Europe to push for an increase of the general carbon emission reduction targets from 20% to 30%. Earlier this month Poland was the only state to vote against the target increase, arguing that the EU should wait for other countries to set similar targets as well.

By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com