Denmark has commenced a renewable energy program that would replace coal energy with green alternatives like wind and bicycle power by 2025, to fight global warming and climate challenges, reports Reuters.
Denmark has already initiated the process by installing wind turbines to meet more than 50 percent of country’s electricity need by2020.
Denmark has witnessed a steady cut of 25 percent from 1990 to 2012 in greenhouse gas emissions, which is considered as one of the steepest falls of any EU nation by experts.
Ultimately, it aims for a 40 percent cut from 1990 by 2020, in accordance with the EU’s goal for 2030.
Coal plants now generate about a third of Danish electricity. There may also be a plan to turn some coal-fired plants into burning wood ones as a backup.
However, a faster phase-out of coal may induce risks such as wind turbines not meeting demand on calm days, according to Danish Energy Association.
The cost of phasing out coal would not be significant, pointed out, Helveg Petersen, Minister, Climate, Energy and Building. This week, he has made a proposal to drive planned elimination of all coal use to 2025 from 2030.
The ministry right now is conducting a detailed study on a formal plan presentation. Currently, Denmark is importing about 6 million ton of coal from Russia annually.
In a recent development, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and top climate scientists has introduced a U.N. report that summaries strategies to fight climate change to avoid floods, droughts, heat waves, storms and rising seas in Copenhagen.
It is a proven fact that Denmark’s greenhouse gas emissions are steeply dropping down, but the heavy reliance on coal shows per capita emissions of 9.25 ton in 2012 which was higher than European Union average of 8.98.
It is amazing that nearly 41 percent of people in Copenhagen cycle to work or school, higher than in Amsterdam.
Copenhagen has been recognized as the world’s greenest capital. A shift from burning coal in homes and buildings was originally to encourage workers to live in the city, rather than commute and pay local taxes elsewhere, according to Mayor Frank Jensen.
Mayors had to create livable cities. A green agenda is necessary as families want to have a green city. Copenhagen boasts of its cycle lanes, expanded up to 350 km, explained Jensen.
Sabeena Wahid
editor@greentechlead.com