New report: Denmark is not the leading country in the field of the environment as claimed by the Danish Prime Minister

According to TV2, a new climate report published by the Consito Green Research Centre shows that Denmark is not the climate leader claimed by Mette Frederiksen and others. The report cites high emissions from Danish consumption as a challenge to Denmark's image as an environmental leader. The findings contradict Frederiksen's assertion regarding Denmark's climate efforts. In an interview with TV2 on August 13, 2023, the Danish Prime Minister stated that Denmark is precisely a leader in environmental matters, adding that Denmark provides what is needed nationally while simultaneously inspiring the rest of the world to make the right choices.

On the contrary, a report published by Consitu on Monday entitled “Global Consumption Emissions in Denmark” shows that Denmark’s per capita climate footprint is among the largest in the world.

“Less air travel, less beef, and smaller homes”

With three prominent factors in determining the ecological footprint, according to the report, the need to take action at both the individual and political levels is highlighted, as the report considers transportation, food and housing to be among the biggest contributors to climate change.

According to the research center, citing the source, Danes can contribute to significantly reducing Denmark’s climate footprint, and it suggests three areas in which this can be done: flying less, replacing beef with pork or chicken, and living in smaller homes.

“Higher taxes on air travel”

According to TV2, Consito program director Michael Minter pointed to three specific areas where Danes can make an impact to reduce Denmark's climate footprint. The first is in the transport sector, which is a major climate burden. Minter points out that individuals can make a difference by replacing petrol and diesel cars with electric ones, using bicycles or public transport more often, and reducing air travel. However, he notes that individual transport choices alone cannot have the desired impact. From a political point of view, politicians must also make it easier for citizens to make the right climate choices. This could be through social solutions—for example, cheaper public transport and significant taxes on air travel, such as considering a higher tax on flights two, three, and beyond, according to Minter for TV2.

“"It is essential to reduce beef consumption."”

It has long been known that beef in particular is a major cause of climate change, and the report's findings support this as well, according to the source. Food accounts for 20% of consumption emissions in Denmark, and the report shows that half of these consumption emissions from food come from beef. Therefore, Minter advises replacing it with pork or chicken, or going further and adopting a more plant-based diet if one is concerned about animal welfare, biodiversity, and the aquatic environment, according to the source.

“Housing needs to be smaller in the future and there should be less workspace.”

The third area that Michael Minter highlights is the housing sector, which accounts for 13% of consumer emissions, as the consumption of building materials, maintenance and renovation is what causes the high climate footprint. Minter suggests living in a smaller space and therefore also consuming less energy, in addition to working in smaller spaces as well.

Political mission

In addition to transport, food, and housing, Michael Minter also points out that consumer goods such as clothing, electronics, and furniture are significant contributors to Denmark's CO2 emissions. However, he believes that the three areas mentioned above should undoubtedly be prioritized – both at the individual and political levels. The report indicates that there are limits to what we can do as individuals, but despite good intentions, it suggests that even if you could individually reduce your climate footprint significantly by changing your eating habits, making alternative transport choices, and living in a smaller space, it wouldn't be enough to guarantee that Denmark's consumption emissions would be halved: "Denmark's high consumption emissions challenge its image as an environmental leader. The report indicates that if we are to truly achieve this and be able to credibly inspire other countries to take the necessary climate action, it will require a substantial additional effort from political decision-makers," Michael Minter told TV2.