Today, NOAH (Friends of the Earth Denmark) hosted ‘The Climate Law – will it be the strongest in Europe?’ a conference with the Danish government’s climate and energy spokespeople, the leading expert on environmental legislation in Denmark, climate scientists and directors from energy and municipal organisations. At the conference, NOAH presented its case for a strong climate law, advocating for Denmark to be fossil-fuel-free by 2032 and to have a net greenhouse gas uptake in 2050 – absorbing more greenhouse gases than it emits every year.
Goals as ambitious as this would require a 50% domestic greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2020, based on 1990 levels, and a 90% reduction by 2030. The Danish government is currently aiming for a 40% domestic greenhouse gas reduction by 2020, based on 1990 levels.
The current administration’s 2011 programme for government included a promise that Denmark would have a climate law based on the UK and Scottish laws. These laws are distinguished by containing binding reduction targets through to 2050, requiring the government to meet annual greenhouse gas budgets and establishing an independent climate change commission to advise the government and monitor its progress. The big difference NOAH would like to see for Denmark, apart from a higher 2050 greenhouse gas target than the UK and Scottish 80%, is attaining this without the use of nuclear power or carbon capture and storage.
NOAH, along with other Friends of the Earth groups around Europe, fights for a strong climate law as part of the European Big Ask campaign, each grouping asking that their governments commit to reduce carbon emissions, year on year, every year.
