Denmark aims to reduce air pollution by 70 percent within ten years and to become completely climate neutral in thirty years. The Danish social-democratic minority government and seven opposition parties have set their new course in a legislative proposal. This was announced in Copenhagen and at the UN Climate Summit COP25 in Madrid.
To achieve climate neutrality, Denmark wants to reduce emissions by 70 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. It has been agreed that the law must also be binding for future governments. With this, Denmark follows the example of the Netherlands, which earlier this year passed a Climate Law in parliament.
The Danish parliament still has to vote on the law in February, but it looks likely that a majority will be found. The minority government and seven other parties will support the agreement. Together, they hold 167 of the 179 seats in parliament.
Minister of Environment and Energy Dan Jørgensen sees the law as "a decisive turning point in the fight against climate change."
During the climate summit in Madrid, Belgium was yesterday given an unenviable distinction: the country was named "Fossil of the Day." This is an award that the global network of environmental groups gives daily during this conference to a country "that has made efforts to block progress in the climate negotiations."
The "Fossil of the Day" award was first presented at the climate summit in Bonn (Germany) in 1999. Belgium received the (third) prize because, according to the jury, as the "capital of Europe," it misses almost all climate targets.
Also Bosnia, Slovenia, and Australia were recognized in Madrid. Bosnia and Slovenia were "awarded" the first prize because the two countries still import coal from Bosnia.
Australia received the second prize because it, as a wealthy country, pays as little for the fight against global warming as countries like Tuvalu, East Timor, and Bangladesh.