In April, Denmark announced it was close to hitting its 2030 climate goals of reducing 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990s levels.
According to the government’s Annual Climate Status and Projection report, if current efforts continue, Denmark will achieve a 68 percent reduction by 2030.
The Climate Council says that the government should aim higher than its 70 percent goal. In May, the organisation argued that a buffer would reduce the risk of expensive last minute actions in order to reach the goal.
According to a new survey by Epinion for DR, Danes are divided on the suggestion.
Of 1,076 respondents, when asked whether Denmark should set a higher 2030 goal, 43 percent yes, 36 percent said no, and 19 percent do not know.
Younger generations in particular said the that the goal should be raised.
The current coalition government pledged when it was elected in 2022 to shift the net-zero target year from 2050 to 2045, and to create new climate goals along the way.
But the Minister of Climate, Energy and Supply, Lars Aagaard, wrote to DR that it’s important to know for sure that the goals will be reached, before talking about new goals.
He added that agricultural emissions need to come down and that climate efforts in general must be strengthened in the lead up to 2030 as success is by no means guaranteed, given the unpredictability of climate forecasting.
