WWF to give Denmark climate award

Environmental organisation recognises country’s ambition to develop a sustainable society that also secures economic growth and welfare

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Oct 17, 2013

Environmental organisation WWF will honour the Danish government for its ambitious energy and climate targets and its long tradition of implementing renewable energy policies.

WWF will hand over the Gift of the Earth prize on Monday to recognise the country’s goal to transition completely to renewable energy sources by 2050.

“Denmark has shown that it is possible to develop a sustainable society while also securing economic growth and welfare,” Jim Leape, the WWF secretary general, said.

Renewable energy leader
While there is still a lot of progress to be made in the transport industry, Denmark’s focus on renewable energy since the 1980s helped it produce 41.7 percent of its electricity from renewable sources in 2012.

WWF also pointed out that Denmark has managed to do more with less by increasing GDP by 39 percent between 1990 and 2001 while also reducing energy consumption by one percent.

“Since the [1970s] oil crisis, Denmark started a tradition of securing broad political support for energy policies with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy,” Gitte Seeberg, secretary general of WWF Denmark stated in a press release.

Green growth
“I hope that all parties will continue to support these ambitious efforts because it’s important. Not just in Denmark, but globally.”

The prize will be handed over to PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Socialdemokraterne) on Monday at the Green Growth Forum, which is being held in Copenhagen.

The annual conference draws governments, businesses, investors and international organisations to find ways to promote green growth and sustainable development.

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