Denmark's Climate Transition Towards 2050
According to the Danish Climate Act, Denmark must be climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest. This means that the total amount of CO2e absorbed must equal the amount emitted. This target is equivalent to a 100 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to the net emissions in 1990.
The government has proposed raising the 2050 target to 110 percent and simultaneously moving the climate neutrality target forward to 2045. A reduction target of 110 percent signifies a society that goes beyond climate neutrality and absorbs more CO2e than it emits. This is also referred to as net-negative emissions.
The purpose of this analysis is to advise the Danish government and Parliament on the long-term climate target for 2050. This includes the formulation of the target, its scale, and the potential ways in which it can be achieved.
The analysis looks at both the current targets of the Danish Climate Act and the government's proposal for increased targets. The scenarios show how combinations of changed behavior and production patterns on one hand, and new technologies on the other hand, can help us achieve the target. It is a systemic analysis, with a particular focus on Denmark's use of land and other physical resources, but it also considers the exchange of resources with the outside world. The analysis highlights a future with many dilemmas and emphasizes the advantages and disadvantages of different paths.
