The SVM government (the Social Democrats, the Venstre Party, and the Moderates) in Denmark has significantly increased the country’s climate ambitions with a target of achieving a 110% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. This goal aims to make Denmark climate-positive; however, specific plans and strategies have not yet been developed to attain this objective.

The Danish Climate Council (Klimarådet) has called for more precise long-term decisions in a recent analysis to ensure the achievement of the target, emphasizing the importance of intensified efforts. Peter Møllgaard, the chairman of the Climate Council, highlights the necessity for both technological solutions and behavioral changes in agriculture and land use. He underscores that a combination of these elements is vital for achieving the desired CO2 reduction.

Climate Minister Lars Aagaard has welcomed the Climate Council’s analysis, promising that the new target will be enshrined in climate legislation (klimaloven) by 2025. Additionally, a new reduction target for 2035 will also be established. Although Aagaard acknowledges the challenges of predicting the state of the world in 2050, he insists that the government’s long-term plans are not merely theoretical.

Aagaard points to various technological solutions such as carbon capture, pyrolysis, and an increase in renewable energy and forest areas as key areas already in the process of implementation. These initiatives are crucial to ensuring that Denmark meets its ambitious goal of being climate-positive by 2050.